Jeanne and John Long

Alice Jeanne Long passed away Friday, June 10, 2016, at her home in Cape Girardeau. She was followed in death by her husband of 70 years, John Long, who passed away Saturday, June 18, 2016, a week and a day after her death. The Longs had celebrated 70 years of marriage with family and friends on May 31, 2016.

Jeanne was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on July 5, 1924, and was the last surviving member of the family of six children. Her parents, Guy and Blodwin Hyde, were lifelong residents of the small town in Iowa, and Jeanne attended William Penn College there. She went on to complete her training as a registered nurse in St. Louis. John was born in St. Louis to Bert and Helen Long on Sept. 27, 1925.

It was in St. Louis that Alice met John, who had just been discharged from the Coast Guard following the end of World War II. They met on a blind date in early April and were married at the end of May of that same year.

They moved to Cape Girardeau, where John pursued his undergraduate degree at Southeast Missouri State College, and Jeanne followed her nursing career at Saint Francis Hospital. In 1950, John was recalled into active duty, and he served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict.

After returning to civilian life, John completed a master's degree and his doctorate at the University of Missouri, and Jeanne worked at the university's Student Health.

In 1965, the Long family returned to Cape Girardeau, and both Jeanne and John became actively involved in the community and were lifelong active members at Centenary United Methodist Church.

Jeanne remained active as a nurse at area hospitals, as a Red Cross nurse and finally at Southeast Missouri State University, where she headed Student Health Services until her retirement. She was also a 70-year member of the P.E.O.

John was a professor in the Department of Communication Disorders from 1965 until his retirement.

The Longs are survived by two daughters, both of Cape Girardeau, Margaret (Alan) Farrow and Judith Stamp. They leave behind two grandchildren, Lisa (Bill) Schnipke of South Carolina and Jason (Donna) Stamp and their great-grandchildren, Aidan and Kylie Stamp of St. Louis.

Their generous and selfless devotion to their church, their friends and their family will be celebrated at a memorial service in their honor.

The family will welcome friends at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home, with the service to follow at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Southeast Hospice in appreciation of the loving care it provided.

Online condolences may be shared at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.