Thomas J. Long

  Thomas Jay Long, 88, got up to get a midnight snack this past Monday, and with a pocket full of cookies, passed away peacefully on February 3, 2025, in Keller, Texas. The other pocket was full of crumbs.

  Tom lived a complete life, from start to finish.

  Born in a barn (or so we were told) on September 29, 1936, near Braman, Oklahoma, Tom grew up in a Phillips camp town called Bunavista in the panhandle of Texas. He loved exploring the land, collecting arrowheads, and giving his two sisters, Maralee and Nancy, a hard time. He enjoyed being a boy scout and proudly represented his troop at the 1950 National Jamboree in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. After graduating from nearby Borger High School, he went on to attend the University of Oklahoma in Norman, which began a lifelong passion for the OU Sooners. There, he studied Geology and, always up for some fun, served as the social chair and president for his dorm. He was a featherweight boxer on the boxing team and a member of the R.O.T.C. Most importantly, there he met his best friend and college roommate, Jerry Haston, who would eventually introduce him to the love of his life, Margie. 

  After graduating from college, Tom served his country with honor in the U.S. Army, eventually stationed at a scientific research base in Greenland. There he studied grain conservation and the flow of ice and often told the story about how he and Big Ernie got on the wrong plane headed back to base camp, and reminded us that none of us kids would be here if he had gotten on the right plane, which went down in a whiteout. We are deeply thankful for the error. 

  A scientist and lifelong rockhound, his passion for the earth’s mysteries led him to a distinguished career as a Geophysicist, eventually starting his own exploration company, Seven L’s Oil & Gas, named for his family. He had always known what he wanted to be when he grew up, so his career was indeed much more than a job; it was a passion and a calling. He was well-respected in the industry and admired by everyone who had the privilege of working with him. We were once told that he had earned the nickname "The Armadillo" from his colleagues, we suppose because he was small, tough, and unmistakably Texan. He was incredibly active in the community, having helped reinstate the Coastal Bend Geophysical Society in 1984 and participated in leadership roles in many societies: the Corpus Christi Geological Society, Texas Archaeological Society, C. C. Exploration Society, SIPES, and SEG, amongst others. He also started the Corpus Christi chapter of the OU Alumni Club. 

  His career took him around the country, from Houston, Texas, to Anchorage, Alaska and Lafayette, Louisiana, before he settled in Corpus Christi with his beloved wife of nearly 50 years, Margie. There, they spent most of their life together. His love for her was fierce and unwavering, and together they raised their five children who love them very much. He was an incredible father who loved to take his kids on digs for arrowheads and pottery. He encouraged them to be themselves, to follow their dreams, and to always show loving kindness to others. He was affectionately called "Mr. C" by the neighborhood kids due to his resemblance to Mr. Cunningham from Happy Days in both stature and temperament. And he was the king of road trips – especially across the southwest, stopping at every rock shop and greasy spoon along the way, instilling a sense of curiosity and adventure in his children.

  Known for his dry, wry, and mildly inappropriate sense of humor, Tom always had a clever aside waiting for you. But he was also known for his fierce loyalty and boundless generosity. He made everyone feel valued. He listened intently and with care. He was always kind, always giving to family, friends, and strangers in need. He was a man of simple pleasures—old country Music (Willie, Patsy), Chinese food and good Texas BBQ, a slice of chocolate cake, tending to his backyard grapefruit trees and feeding the birds. He loved and collected art – especially paintings of the desert southwest, pre-Columbian pottery and Native American artifacts. Lastly, he never met a dog (or animal, for that matter) that he didn’t like and want to give snacks to. And all dogs loved Tom Long.

  He was also a man of deep faith who knew Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and exemplified that by serving others. He was a proud member of the United Methodist Church. He had a beautiful, deep voice and for many years sang in the church choir. He spent his last years living with his eldest daughter, Lois and her family in Keller. There, each morning, he would wind the clock and sit in his chair and softly sing the gospel songs he knew by heart (Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art) and was more than happy to sample all the cookies his grandkids baked.

  He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Margie Rae (Fisk) Long of Austin, Texas; his parents, Charles and Esther Long of Fritch; sister, Maralee (Long) Brown of Arlington; and many, many dear friends and relatives.

  He is survived by his sister, Nancy (Long) McCann of Fort Worth; his five children: Lois (Long) Scott and husband, Dennis of Keller; Thomas Kyle Long and wife, Molly of College Station; Lori (Long) Plowman and husband, Chad of Weatherford; Cami (Long) Basse and husband, Chris of San Antonio; and Amber Long and fiancé, Justin Keen, of Nashville, Tennessee.

  Tom (AKA Pop Pop) was a proud grandfather to seven grandchildren: Travis Long, Caitlyn (Scott) Wermuth, Sloane Basse, Collin Thomas Scott, Avery (Long) Harrington, Kennedy Scott, and Hayden Thomas Plowman. He is also survived by many beloved nephews and nieces and cherished friends.

  He will be held in state at Galbreaith Pickard Hilltop Chapel, in Willow Park, Texas, with a family visitation, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., on Friday, February 7th, followed by a celebration of life BBQ lunch.

  A graveside service will be held at Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery, at 2:00 p.m., on Monday, February 10th, with a memorial reception at Water Street Oyster Bar to follow. 

  In lieu of flowers, please donate to OU Foundation Scholarship Fund, or a charity of your choosing. 

  When asked to describe him in one word, those who loved him said: Generous. Loyal. Provider. Quietly-Funny. Easy-Going. Kind-Hearted. The-Greatest. My-favorite-man-on-this-planet. But we all know just one word isn’t enough to sum up a person’s life. You were lucky if you knew him. We are beyond thankful for the 88 years we got with him. We know he is at peace in Heaven, surrounded by so much love. He will always be deeply loved and greatly missed.