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William George Long Obituary
George didn’t quite make it to the century mark, but he came close. Well into his 97th year he died peacefully on December 9, 2024, at Penticton Regional Hospital after a short illness.
George was born on July 7, 1928, on a farm near Thedford, Ontario, the only child of Lena Jamieson and George James Long. It seemed at the time he might not live 96 hours, let alone 96 years. He was allergic to his mother’s milk; cow’s milk didn’t work for him either, nor could he tolerate goat’s milk. In desperation they tried mare’s milk. He thrived on that. Perhaps that helps explain his solid character and pragmatic outlook as he pulled steadily through life.
When George was just a year old, the family moved to Gravenhurst in Ontario’s Muskoka district, and here he grew up and went to school (the first few grades in the old one-room West Gravenhurst School). After high school, working at the local Rubberset factory, he met and fell in love with Marilyn Helene House, whose family had recently moved to town. They were married on September 30, 1950, in what is now Bethune Memorial House, a national historic site, but at the time the United Church manse. They had been married nearly 71 years when Marilyn died.
In 1953, seeking a more outdoor type of work, George signed on with the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests (now the Ministry of Natural Resources) at the ranger station in Dorset, about 30 miles northeast of Gravenhurst. This was the beginning of a successful 33-year career with the Department. After graduating from the Ontario Forest Ranger School in 1957, George’s duties as a forestry technician primarily involved the management of Crown land forests in the Muskoka–Parry Sound–Algonquin Park region and overseeing the activities of lumber companies. He was an expert scaler (measuring volume and assessing quality of cut timber), which led to his appointment as scaling auditor for Algonquin Region. One of the duties of this position was teaching the annual provincial scaling course (required to became a licensed scaler). He delighted in finding some uncommon tree species to include in the mix for the field test to challenge his students.
Not surprisingly, George loved the outdoors, and became a walking encyclopedia of knowledge of flora and fauna. Throughout their married life he and Marilyn were avid hikers, canoe trippers, campers, birders, and nature photographers. A family camping trip, often to Algonquin Park, was an annual event while their children were growing up. After retirement in 1986, George and Marilyn began to travel extensively across Canada each summer, camping and exploring interesting places off the beaten track, especially in the mountains of BC and the Yukon. They became involved in the square dancing and fiddle music scene, George calling dances while Marilyn played the fiddle, through which they made many friends across the country. George became well known for his old-time square dance calling and was invited to call at competitions in southern Ontario.
For much of their married life George and Marilyn lived in Bracebridge, Ontario, but in 2005 their love of the mountains led them to relocate to Oliver, BC, where they were also close to their daughter and her family in Penticton. They became regular customers of Zias restaurant, where they could often be found at their favourite table by the fireplace. The staff had long memorized George’s detailed instructions for what ingredients not to include in any of the dishes he typically ordered.
After Marilyn died in 2021 just shy of her 91st birthday, George moved to the Charles Manor seniors’ residence in Penticton. Weekly dinners at his daughter’s house then became a tradition, with games of euchre and cribbage following. It was rare that anybody could beat George at euchre.
George leaves behind son Gary (Lorrie Szekat) of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, daughter Barbara Lacy (Gordon) of Penticton, and grandchildren Robyn Lacy (Ian Petty) of St. John’s, Newfoundland, and Brendan Lacy (Brenda Reid) of Kitchener, Ontario. He was much admired “Uncle George” to Suzanne House, Kathy Mueller, and the late Carol McKenna.
At George’s request, there will be no funeral service. He will be cremated and his ashes spread by his family in the same lovely mountain spot that he had spread Marilyn’s.
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July 7 1928 December 9 2024 96 Years Old
Death notice for the town of: Penticton, Province: Colombie britanique
death notice William George Long July 7 1928 December 9 2024 96 Years Old
obituaries notice William George Long July 7 1928 December 9 2024 96 Years Old
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of William George Long July 7 1928 December 9 2024 96 Years Old and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
