Thomas Rowland Long

Thomas Rowland Long passed away peacefully in the early hours of June 4, 2014 with family at his side. He did it on his terms without extraordinary measures to prolong his life which came as no surprise to those who loved him. Tom was born on February 3, 1929 to Charles Phillip and Enid Rowland Long. He was the oldest of three sons and grew up a block from the beach, in Gulfport. He finished Gulfport High School in 1947 and headed for The University of Mississippi establishing a lifelong love for Ole Miss. After graduation Tom began a career in the insurance business that started in Gulfport working for his father but soon took him to Jackson where he worked for Standard Life Insurance Company for more than thirty years. He finished up his last few years, before retirement, working for the State of Mississippi as a representative for the office of the Insurance Commissioner. While in Jackson, Tom met and married Jean Stainton and together they had three children. Their life in Jackson was busy and full with work, family, church, good friends and neighbors but they always intended to move to the Coast after retirement and in July of 2005 they did just that. This was only weeks before Hurricane Katrina hit the area but even after a shaky beginning they really enjoyed this new phase of their life together. Tom loved spending time with his brothers and their wives, his son, his daughter and her family, and with lifelong friends, especially his Triplett-Day Drugstore coffee group. He and Jean joined St. Peter's by the Sea Episcopal Church, where he grew up, and Tom enjoyed reestablishing his bond with his family church. Tom was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Alison Long Roberts. He is survived by his wife, Jean Long, daughter, Enid Machen, son, Tom Long, Jr., brothers, Charles Long IIl (Dottie), and Gordon Long (Dona), brother-in-law, Dave Stainton (Mary Ellen), grandchildren, Matt Yonko, Russell Currey, and Olivia Currey, and great-grandchildren, Rowland Yonko and Alison Yonko. A funeral service will be held at St. Peter's by the Sea Episcopal Church in Gulfport, Mississippi, on Sunday, June, 8, 2014 at 3 pm with a visitation starting at 2 pm. There will be a reception after the service in the parish hall. In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate contributions to St. Peter's by the Sea Episcopal Church, 1912 E Beach Blvd, Gulfport, MS 39501 Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com