John Long

John Victor Long

October 26, 1940 ~ June 20, 2017

John Victor Long was born on October 26, 1940 in Los Angeles, CA, to Frank Varah Long and Mary Evelyn Bush.  He passed away on June 20, 2017 at his home in North Ogden from Parkinson Disease and Lewy Body Dementia with his wife, Christine, at his side.  John was one of five children, having  two older half-brothers, Frank and Ramon, an older half-sister, Lucille, and younger brother Roger, now residing in the Philippines.

In 1950, when John was 10, he and his mother and brother moved to Phoenix, AZ, when it was still a small town.  He attended West High School, where he made many friends and a few life-long friends in Bob, Mike, and Delaney, aka The West Phoenix Luncheon and Drinking Society.  He was raised in both the LDS and Catholic Churches and in high school years even tried the Methodist Church, mainly because they let him “sing” in the choir and had donuts.  No church ever stuck to him; though he was always proud of his family’s history and pioneer relatives in the Mormon faith that settled both Kaysville and Salt Lake City.

John attended the University of Colorado twice.  He returned there and received his Engineering degree after having been kicked out as an “exuberant” youth.  While there he met, and in 1962, married Priscilla “Tuppi” Smith.  After graduation, they moved to Southern California and then returned to Scottsdale, Arizona, where they raised their family and John received his Master’s Degree in Business from Arizona State University.  They had two children, Christine Diane of Juneau, AK and John Jr, of Carmel CA, each having two children of their own giving grandchildren of Jonathan and Jayden and John Tristan and Sailer Jolie.  John and Tuppi divorced in 1987.  That same year he met Christine Mangine and they were married in 1989.

Over the years, John had several careers, starting in the early 60’s as a salesman for Owen’s Corning Fiberglass and Air Products, then in the late 60’s he became a stock broker with Dean Witter and weathered many financial storms.  He remained a stock broker for many years, until he and a business partner started Quail Run Publications.  With advent of personal computers, he saw the writing on the wall and sold that business in 1991 and started his own sales agency in the construction industry, Windrose Trading.  Both he and Chris ran this business until he retired in 2014.

While John did not have any official hobbies, he was a student of history, always reading history books, visiting historical sites, and never passed up a museum or roadside history sign.  He loved the outdoors, and enjoyed tent camping, hiking, and 4-wheeling with friends and family where he earned a life-long nickname of Largo.  He was an avid snow skier and runner and even learned to scuba dive in his 60’s.  John was also a good photographer and leaves behind copious amounts of well chronicled slides; after all he was Captain Tidy Camp.

John was preceded in death by his parents, half-brothers, and sister and his first wife, Priscilla.  We will miss your stories and your “Largoisms”.

The family would also like to thank the best caregivers from Wasatch Home Helpers of Lisa Mendez and Family, Amanda Hancock and Family, Barbara Stowell and Madi Jenkins.  And also thanks Intermountain Hospice nurse Lissa Ahlat and to all at Hospice who made this all just a little easier.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, July 14, 2017 at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s North Ogden Mortuary, 2140 N. Washington Blvd.  Friends may visit with family on Friday from 1 to 2 p.m. at the mortuary.