Richard Joseph Long, 68, died peacefully in his sleep at home on Monday, December 6, 2021, after a long fight with renal failure. He most recently spent his time engaging in a long-game experiment to see how long one could survive eating nothing but donuts and coffee (the answer: four years) and binge-watching every Godzilla film he could find. Stubborn until the end, Rich passed on his own terms and in his own time, and his family would not have it any other way. 

Born on July 10, 1953 to Jessie and Marie (nee Pratt) Long, Rich grew up in High Ridge, Missouri as the oldest of two children and managed to survive eight years of Catholic education mostly unscathed. A brilliant mind who was easily bored, Rich left high school his freshman year and worked assorted jobs – line cook, welder, mechanic – before joining Hendrix Water Supply where he used his gift of gab to charm clients in Eastern Missouri and Western Illinois throughout the ‘80s. He later joined Public Water Supply District #8 in Cedar Hill, where he worked until a work-related injury forced his retirement.

He was a girl dad before it was cool, always supporting his three daughters in whatever they chose to do. He taught them how to bait a hook, change the oil in a car, and throw a punch (but only if it was necessary). He was unfailingly proud of what his girls could do and bragged about them endlessly to whoever would listen. If you knew Rich, you knew his girls – who he affectionately called Moe, Larry, and Curly – and his wife Bonnie who he believed hung the moon. 

Never one to sit still, Rich could often be found outdoors tinkering in his workshop, working on the family cars, or hunting or fishing throughout the season. He was equally at home driving his four-wheeler through the woods, mowing the grass on a Saturday afternoon, or casting a line on the lake from the comfort of his bass boat. He was famous for his milk gravy, Thanksgiving stuffing, and baked bean recipes, and he could make a mean pancake, just like his dad before him. Rich was quick-witted, funny, and could light up a room with only his laugh. He was a giant in this life and leaves behind a hole in the hearts of his friends and family that is not easily filled.

Rich is survived by his wife of 41 years Bonnie, his daughters Jessica (Shannon), Rachel (John), and Tori (Jessica), and his beloved grandchildren Harper, Georgeana, and Gideon. 

He is preceded in death by his father and mother and six aunts and uncles. 

A celebration of life will be held in the spring when family and friends can gather outdoors, the place Rich most loved to be.