LONG, F. MARILYN, 1924-2012

Published in Spokesman-Review on February 12, 2012.

F. Marilyn (Wells) Long (07/30/1924 - 02/01/2012) Passed in peace February 1, 2012, age 87. She was ahead of her time -"a twenty-first century powerhouse." Florence Marilyn Wells was born in Spokane, WA on July 30, 1924 to Edward and Jessie Wells, the third of five children. She spent her childhood in Mead, WA. Voted "most talented" by Mead Senior Class of 1942, she was an accomplished singer, musician, and actress as well as a scholar. After high school she attended the University of Washington and in 1944, married her high school sweetheart, Howard M. Long. During WWII she lived in Dodge City, KS and Ft. Meyers, FL where Howard was stationed in the Army Air Corps as a pilot.


After the war Marilyn and her husband returned to college at Washington State College (WSU) where she became one of the first women graduates of the pharmacy school, along with having her first child in her senior year. After working in a Chewelah pharmacy for a few years, Marilyn and her husband moved to Hartline, WA and then to Almira in 1957 where she was invited to open the first (and last) pharmacy in the Del Mar Fountain. She was a soloist at church and school events, an avid bridge player, and an active mother of five children. She was also a true sports fanatic, knowing the history of each and every professional football, basketball, baseball, and tennis player (including their tabloid life!). Marilyn lived and worked in Almira until 1968 except for a year in Hawaii where she worked at Summer's Pharmacy in the Ala Moana Center while her husband attended the University and her children experienced island life.


In 1968 Marilyn and family moved to Ephrata, WA and later to the main ranch near Waterville, WA so her husband could follow his dream of farming full time. From 1968 she worked in pharmacies in Ephrata and Moses Lake supporting her husband in his farming career and her children (and grandchildren) through college. After she retired in 1989, she and her husband spent their summers at their lake home near Inchelium, WA and their winters in Mesa, AZ where she was an active tennis, golf and bridge player. She continued to work as a "relief pharmacist" in Coulee City, Waterville, Ephrata, Grand Coulee Dam and Wilber, WA to give small town pharmacists a day or two off.

She fiercely loved her family and especially enjoyed baking pies for sons-in-law, cooking breakfast for all on holidays, making cookies with grandchildren, and hitting "zingers" against husband, children and grandchildren on the tennis court.

She is survived by her five children: Eric E. Long (Becky) Ephrata, WA, Susan Long Coleman, PhD (Carson) currently residing in Afghanistan, Cherie M. Scellick (Steve) Ellensburg, WA, Carol Long Butterfield, PhD (Mike) Ellensburg, WA, and Peggy Long Seier, Spokane; as well as six grandchildren: Ben Scellick (Kamille) Bellingham, WA, Alex Coleman (Kaci) Portland, OR, Amber Yeaw (Bob), Seattle, WA, Katherine Coleman, Lexington, VA, Lia Long Butterfield, Ellensburg, WA, Devyn Marie Seier, Spokane; two great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Howard, in 2005; and siblings Mildred, John, Rosalie, Ted and niece Kathy Andersen.

The family would like to thank Serene Meadows of Davenport and Kimberly's Cottage of Spokane for their care and kindness during Mom's final years. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest a contribution to the Spokane Children's Theatre at www.spokanechildrenstheatre.org.

A memorial service will be celebrated on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at HAZEN & JAEGER FUNERAL HOME, 1306 N. MONROE ST, SPOKANE, WA . Reception following at The Lincoln Center. Visit Guest Book