Charles Robert Long

Charles Robert "Charlie" Long, 59, passed away Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer. The family will hold a private celebration of Charlie's life in lieu of a memorial service. Memorials: Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth. Charlie was born Sept. 1, 1949, to Evans and Willie Jane Long in Corpus Christi. He completed an enlistment in the U.S. Army in 1970 and went on to enjoy a colorful life and diverse careers in both Texas and California, eventually settling back in Texas where he delighted in his work at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth. His smile, charm, warmth and good humor were a perfect fit for his work there, where he brought good cheer and comfort to children and families in difficult and sometimes frightening situations. Charlie was best known for his sense of humor and his love of life, family and friends. He enjoyed nothing more than making people laugh and simply having a good time. This good cheer and the friendships, memories, jokes and good stories it created are the lasting legacy of a colorful, comical character with a contagious smile and a kind heart. The family would like to express their profound gratitude to Charlie's coworkers at Cook Children's for the incredible kindness, support, care and concern shown by them to Charlie and Betty as his illness progressed and made him unable to continue the work he so enjoyed there. They are a testament to both the goodness of the people themselves and to Charlie's natural tendency to make lifelong friends everywhere he went. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Andrew Long; sister, Johnie Wallace; and brother, Mark Long. Survivors: Wife of 19 years, Betty; daughter, Shea (Donald) Doubleday; son, Aaron Long; step-daughter, Karen (Greg) Williams; step-sons, Wayne (Carmen) and Darin (Stephanie) Sill; grandchildren, Jacqueline and Sarah Doubleday, Jessie, Josh, and Jared Williams, and Tristan Sill; sister, Mary Jo Jarvis; brother, Stephen Long; nephews, Eric Jarvis and family and Brian Wallace and family.