Bettylou Long

EASTHAMPTON -Bettylou was born August 15, 1932 in upstate New York. She was the daughter of Donald and Helene Ramsey and sister to Bill, Don Jr. (Tuck) and Doug. She became wife to William Long and mother to Linda, Matthew, Andrew and Trecia. She then became grandmother to Brian, Keely, Anna, Jenna, Kajsa, Madeline, Jack, Colby and Carson.

Bettylou was a curious lifelong learner. She was a passionate reader, and always had a book in progress. Interested in learning new information and new skills, she kept herself busy with intellectual, artistic and active pursuits. She was a thoughtful question asker, and didn’t settle until she was thoroughly satiated with answers. She loved a good word puzzle or cryptogram, she taught herself Spanish and Algebra, and she enjoyed listening to late night radio talk shows about paranormal phenomena. She traveled to India, New Zealand, Fiji, Costa Rica, Mexico, several European countries, and almost all 50 states. She lived in England, camped in the white mountains, skied the slopes of New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, cruised to Bermuda, rode a raft down the Colorado River, and explored Hawaii. She graduated from Rockland High with a letter in Basketball. She played tennis, ran road races, was a dedicated member of the the Zebra Track Club, and rode a tandem bike for two. She enjoyed Red Sox baseball games and New England Patriot football games.

Bettylou lived all her life with the challenge of being a visually impaired person. Rarely evident to the outsider, she fiercely fought against her limitations, compensated, overcame and thrived. A talented artist at heart, Bettylou painted beautiful, detailed paintings and created a variety of exceptional pottery pieces. She made porcelain dolls, painting their faces and assembling their parts and was a co-founder of the Long House of Cards greeting card business. She taught herself how to play the piano and was half of the Long Family Birthday duet.

Bettylou loved her family and her community. She was an active member of her church in Falmouth and Bourne before she moved to western Massachusetts. She ran sight loss groups for other vision impaired people and facilitated food donations for families in need in Falmouth. Bettylou was also a Daughter of the American Revolution. To her family she was a steady strong calm presence. She never complained about her vision loss. Always a gracious hostess, she was ready at any moment to house and feed guests. She gave warm hugs and words of encouragement freely. Although she didn’t always enjoy talking on the phone, she was a good listener. Bettylou was an intelligent, loving, giving person who made the world a better place by being in it. She has been an inspirational role model for those who have been blessed to have known her. Daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, artist, intellectual, wise, curious, independent, strong, amazing grace. Bettylou Long passed July 30, 2024. She will be missed dearly by her surviving family members.

THE FAMILY INVITES RELATIVES AND FRIENDS TO JOIN THEM FOR A CELEBRATION OF BETTYLOU’S LIFE AT 10:00 A.M., THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2024, AT CHRIST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 271 ROCKY HILL RD, FLORENCE, MA 01062.
AHEARN FUNERAL HOME IS ENTRUSTED WITH ARRANGEMENTS.