Jean Stainton Long

Jean Stainton Long passed away in her sleep on July 7, 2015, after a lengthy illness. The lack of any pain through the entire ordeal seems a miracle from God and her family is grateful for the good July 4th weekend she had with visiting family. Jean was born on October 15, 1929, to David Gordon and Edna Grief Stainton in Jackson, Mississippi. She graduated from Forest Hill High and was named Miss Forest Hill her senior year. After graduation she went to work for South Central Bell in downtown Jackson. It was there, on her lunch break, several years later that she spotted a tall, lanky young man that would be her husband. She married Tomas Rowland Long on August 23, 1952, and continued working until their second child was born. Years later she went back to work for AT&T and retired from there in 1991. Jean and Tom had three children and Jean spent her children’s formative years being very involved in their school, sports, social and church activities. She was simply the best - the best mother and wife, the best neighbor and friend, the best cook and hostess. She was in her element and she loved every minute of it! After retirement she and Tom had planned to move to Gulfport, where Tom had grown up but that didn’t happen until the summer of 2005, shortly before Hurricane Katrina. She enjoyed being close to her children, Tom’s brothers and their wives, and her brother and his family. A lifelong Episcopalian, she enjoyed her time as a member of St Peter’s by the Sea in Gulfport although she always missed her church family at St Columb’s in Jackson. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her daughter Alison Long Roberts, and her brother-in-law Charles Long, III. She is survived by her daughter, Enid Machen; son, Tom Long, Jr.; brother, David Stainton (Mary Ellen); brother-in-law, Gordon Long (Dona); sister-in-law, Dottie Long; grandchildren, Matt Yonko, Russell Currey, and Olivia Currey; and great-grandchildren, Rowland Yonko and Alison Yonko. Special thanks go to Mary Ellen Stainton whose help with Mother during her illness is appreciated beyond words. Once a nurse, always a nurse! Thanks also go to the wonderful staff of Notre Dame Hospice, especially Paul Cook and Lisa Bissett, and to the great people at the Gulfport Care Center. A funeral service will be held at St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church in Gulfport on Saturday, July 11, 2015, at 3:00 with a visitation starting at 2:00. 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