Becky Long, age 61, passed away November 21, 2011 at her home in Northridge under hospice care with her husband, Robert, the love of her life for 42 years and her oldest sister, Carol Sue Chunn by her side. She was the daughter of Bernece (Herbert) Hill and Harry Beal. Harry preceded his daughter in death (1975).
In 1962, the Beal family, Harry, Bernece, Carol Sue, Bonnie, Becky, and Harriet moved from Paxton, IL to Stockton. Harry had accepted a position as Salesman for Federal Fertilizer Distributors, covering Southwest WI and Northwest IL. The family became members of Calvary United Methodist Church, the girls started school and Bernece started working at Atwoods. In 1966, Carol Anne Beal, Harry's daughter, from West Virginia choose to come join our family making it 'His, Hers, and Ours.
Becky graduated from Stockton High School with the Class of 1968. Her dream of continuing her education to be a nurse was found when she was accepted at the Masonic Hospital in Chicago. Robert Long was an employee at the Masonic Hospital where he and Becky met and were married in September of 1969. Their first home was in Sparta, IL with the help of Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Morris Sieberg. After a few years, family and that dream to be a nurse brought them back to Freeport and Becky graduated from Freeport Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. In 1981, Becky, Bob, and three small children moved to CA. Becky did very well with her career as a nurse and added a son to the family. Most of her working years, she was full time at one hospital and part time at another. She served in the capacity of Nurse, Administrative Supervisory Nurse, and in 1996, accepted a position at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks, CA. Becky became interested and became an officer of the SEUI Local 121 RN Union. Becky traveled to Washington DC many times to lobby for better patient care. One of her priorities was more than one RN on a floor. She would say to me on the phone, 'if more than one 'Code Bluehappens, the RN can only care for one.Her most interesting trip was an invitation and attendance of the inauguration of President Obama.
Becky is survived by her husband Robert; daughters Michelle (David) Gunther, Samantha Long, and Jennifer Long; son Timothy Long; Mother Bernece (Herbert) Hill; sisters Carol Sue Chunn of Rockford, IL, Bonita (Mike) Townsend of Stockton, Harriet (Randy) Woker of Freeport, IL, Carol Ann (Ted) Raab of Machesney Park, IL, and Pamela (Bob) Bjerke, of Cookeville, TN; brother Ronald (Karen) Hill, of Wilmette, IL; grandchildren, Robert, Jessica, Morgan, Rebecca (her namesake), and Jonathan Gunther, and Triston and Joseph Terusa of CO. Also, Becky was blessed with many nieces and nephews in Freeport IL, the many Schlimme/Vichery relatives in Sparta, IL and in Ohio and West Virginia from the Beal/Bogg's family. Becky had many beloved friends who were so dear to her heart she called extended family.
A Celebration of Life was held at Chattsworth West United Methodist Church on December 3, 2011 with burial at Oakwood Memorial Park in Chattsworth, CA. Please join us for a Celebration Visitation at Calvary United Methodist Church, 315 W. Maple, Stockton, on December 10, 2011. Open visitation will begin at 1:30 PM with a service beginning at 3:00 PM and food to follow. May we celebrate becky's life with joy, hope, and love. All memorials will go to Calvary Church or Stockton High School.