Thomas Eugene “Tom” Long of Hermiston passed away in Hermiston on Feb. 22, 2020 at the age of 80.
He was born on Oct. 4, 1939 in Baker City to Garnet and Esther Heggie Long.
Tom lived in Baker City throughout his childhood, where he attended school and graduated with the class of 1957. After high school, he continued to live and work in Baker City for several years until moving to Arkansas to work at a missile base. He continued work at various jobs in and around Arkansas and Tennessee. He returned to Baker City in 1975 and then moved to Hermiston in 1980, where he worked part time in road construction and proceeded to work part time as a bartender at the Buff and Brew, and ended up working full time there when the road construction job was complete. He worked for SPI Security for several years, traveling the United States until he got married and decided to pursue bartending full time. He was a well-known bartender around Hermiston, working at several local bars including Hale’s, Marti’s South and lastly the Cozy Tavern.
Tom married Teresa Thorpe-Graham on Dec. 18, 1995 in a private ceremony in Baker City.
Tom enjoyed taking his dogs for walks and rides, going for morning coffee, working in the yard, watching all types of sports, and bragging about his grandkids.
Tom is survived by his wife, Teresa; sons, Lance (Jeannie) Long and Tommy Long; stepdaughters, Kim Newbill, Jennifer Marshall (Shane Huston), Melissa (JR) Goodwin and Audra (Steve) Workman; brothers, Gerald and Keith Long of Baker City; 11 grandchildren; three great grandchildren; as well as many other extended family members.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Harkenrider Senior Center, 255 N.E. Second St. in Hermiston.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Tom’s honor to the Hermiston Senior Center or Fuzzball Animal Rescue.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in charge of the arrangements.
