Melvin Long

March 1, 1935-January 21, 2016 Melvin Ray Long, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully at his home in Casper, WY on Thursday, January 21, 2016. Melvin was born on March 1, 1935. He grew up in Beaumont, Texas, the son of Mahlon and Lillie Long. Melvin was a 1953 graduate of South Park High School and served in the U.S. Naval Reserve for eight years. From an early age, Melvin had a passion for cars and was proud to be among the first in Beaumont, TX to create true dual exhaust on his car in the 1950's. By trade, he was a commercial milkman, plumber/pipe fitter, and a lifelong union member. By life experience, he was a self-taught mechanic/carpenter/inventor, a wiz at geometry, he was the ultimate handyman. Melvin was an engineer at heart, always making things work better and last longer. He never feared to tear into something to find out how it worked. On a lighter side, Melvin had a quick wit and was full of memorable/colorful sayings...none to be repeated here. Melvin married Carol on September 24, 1971, enjoying more than 40 years of marriage and sharing their love for the outdoors-hunting, riding snowmobiles, dirt bikes, and traveling across the U.S. on several adventures with their family (children and grandchildren) and dear family friends. He would happily take the long way or the hard road for a majestic view or herd of elk. Melvin was an avid fan of all motor sports...his favorite was NASCAR. He attended countless auto races across the U.S., from Indianapolis to Daytona to Phoenix, and was a Dale Earnhardt fan before there was such a thing (Go Dale!) Melvin is survived by his four sons, Steven Lewis Long, Thomas "Zane" Long (Sheila), Joel Blane Long (Elizabeth), and Mark Regan Long (Doris); his grandchildren, Sarah Long Mix, Brooke Long, Shanna Nicole Long, Samantha Michelle Long Steier (Colton), Melvin "Blane" Long, Cassandra "Cassie" Marie Long Hall (Eugene), Cheyanne Evans Trujillo (Trevor), Megan Evans, Lisanne Long, Teilor Gracey Long, and Regan Nichel Long; great-grandchildren, Branson Noah Biel, Axel Tanner Long, Ryder Mix, Easton Mix and Ezekiel "Zeke" Lance Steier. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife. A memorial service in the family cemetery will be held at a later date.