Shirley Geraldine Long

     Shirley Geraldine Long, age 94, of Elsie, MI, passed away Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Haven of Rest in Owosso, MI.
     Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Houghton Chapel, Ovid, MI, at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, with Pastor Mona Kindel officiating. Burial will follow at Fairfield Township Cemetery, Elsie, MI. Visitation for Shirley and her son Doug will be held on Sunday, April 19, 2026 from 2-8 P.M. with family present from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. and on Monday, April 20, 2026 from 4-8 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Houghton Chapel, Ovid, MI.
     Shirley was born in Henderson, MI on October 18, 1931, the daughter of William and Clara (Wellmer) Seelhoff. She graduated from Owosso High School with the class of 1949. During co-op in school, Shirley worked for Midwest Abrasive in Owosso. On August 19, 1950, she married her high school sweetheart Gaylord Long at Salem Lutheran Church in Owosso, MI. They were blessed with 74 years of marriage.
     After they were married, Shirley worked alongside her husband on their family farm. She was the farm bookkeeper, cook, raised her family and chauffeured her kids to their school and sporting events. Shirley could be found mowing the lawn while Gaylord farmed. She loved watching her soaps, game shows and Perry Mason with her children. She liked polka dancing with her husband Gaylord, she was a competitive bowler and enjoyed tending to her flower gardens & planters in the yard. Shirley and Gaylord spent their winter months in Zephyrhills, Florida where they enjoyed time with friends. They liked playing cards in Florida and with their friends back home in Michigan. Shirley always had a bountiful garden and she will be remembered for canning her produce and canning meat - especially her sweet pickles, strawberry jam, and sweet corn.
     She is survived by her sons: David and Sally Long of Elsie, Dennis and Carolyn Long of Elsie and twin daughter Debra Long of Elsie. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren: Mike (Valerie) Long, Amy (Brad) Long-Carman, Christi Stenger, Brad (Kerri) Long, Travis (Sandy) Long, and Heidi (Randy) Uresti; 14 grandchildren: Cayleb, Dylan, Braxton, Nicholas, Myah, Ellyanna, Hunter, Owen, Oliver, Emmylou, Griffin, Mitchell, Grace, and Ian and a great-great grandson on the way. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.
     She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Douglas Long, twin daughter Darlene, siblings: Arlene Simpson, Lorraine Shuster, Doris Atkinson, Bernice Sutliff, Norman Seelhoff, and Donald Seelhoff.
     Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105. Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes - Houghton Chapel, Ovid, Michigan.