Shirley Arline Long

Shirley Arline Long, 99, of Houghton Lake, passed away peacefully on Sunday July 9, 2023, at the Brook of Houghton Lake.  Shirley was born in Flint, MI on May 6, 1924, the daughter of Frederick J and Myrtle Wodtke.  She married Theodore Reginald “Ted” Long on July 9, 1945, and raised their 4 children in Port Huron while working as a pharmacist assistant.  She and Ted moved to Mio in 1994, where they enjoyed fishing, gardening, and baking their legendary dozens of Christmas cookies and pasties for friends, family, and church fundraisers. Shirley loved the Lord, and read her Bible from cover to cover every year.  She was active in church and as a volunteer for the Strawberry Patch resale shop in Mio. She liked to introduce herself by affirming “Shirley goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.”
Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Ted in 2014, her eldest son Danny from a motorcycle accident in 1967, and her younger brother Frederick Wodtke (Donna) in 2004. Survivors include daughter Pamela Bullins of Florida, two sons Theodore Frank “Ted” Long (Marian) of Grayling and Greg Long (Mel Baur) of Port Huron, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
After her husband’s death in 2014, Shirley moved to the Brook, where she enjoyed Euchre, Wii bowling and Bingo. Even as her eyesight and hearing declined, she always had a smile, laugh and witticism for staff and fellow residents.  She had often expressed a wish to live long enough to celebrate her 100th birthday, yet passed away soon after turning 99, seeming instead to choose the date of her 78th wedding anniversary. Her family is grateful for the excellent care and companionship she received at the Brook, as well as the compassion and skill of the staff of Compassus Hospice.