Obituary of Dell Ira Liddell Long

LONG, Dell Ira Liddell "Dell" Long passed away February 25, 2018, in his home in Tucson. He was born in a parsonage in Alix, Arkansas to Reverend Jack B. Long and Grace Frances (Chandler) Long. In 1947 his family moved to Globe, Arizona. As a kid, he and his brother, J.B., helped his dad work mining claims in the summer, and later was a well driller's assistant. He moved to Grants, New Mexico, with his first wife, Sharon (Swaim) McDaniel, to work in a uranium mine, where he contracted uranium poisoning. In the 1960's he worked as accountant in the mining industry in Silver City, N.M., attended WNMU, and adopted his niece, Gina Patrice of Globe. In 1969 Dell married Gaylene Pruit and remained employed in mining companies until moving to Tucson in 1971. There he began working as an accountant for Beauty Built Homes, covering Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Tucson divisions, until he formed his own home building company, Dominion Homes, Inc., in 1983. In 1985 Dell and Gaylene adopted their granddaughter, Vanessa Jennifer. Dell loved fishing, boating, hot rods, snow skiing, and they traveled to Oklahoma, Canada, and Ireland to research the Long family history. From 2005 - 2011 he was married to Judy English of Globe, and they traveled again to Canada and Ireland to retrace his Irish roots. A member of SAHBA, Dell built custom homes throughout Tucson and the Memorial Garden at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, where he was an active member. He served on the Board of Tucson Metropolitan Ministry from 2005 - 2018, an Emeritus Board Member the past few years. He was a member of BPO Elks, Silver City, and Freemason, Masonic Lodge in Globe. He is survived by his daughters, Patrice Stiver and Vanessa Murtaugh; granddaughters, Emma Long and Savannah Darnell. Funeral Service will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 16, 2018 at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, followed by graveside service at Evergreen Cemetery at 12:15 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to TMM Family Services, Inc. (TMMFS.org) Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOME, Avalon Chapel.