Howard M. Long, 77, of Vero Beach, died Wednesday, June 17, 2009, at the Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach. Mr. Long was born Oct. 31, 1931, in Coosa County, Ala., and moved to Vero Beach 48 years ago from Birmingham, Ala., by way of Ft. Lauderdale where he had lived for six months and St. Augustine where he lived for one month. Prior to his retirement he had been a manager for Piper Aircraft for 30 years. He was a Korean War veteran serving in the U.S. Army and a lifetime member of the VFW.Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Joye Long, of Vero Beach; sons, Kenneth Long, of Vero Beach, and Mike (Jeannie) Long, of Crestview, Fla.; brother, Huey Long, of Gulf Shores, Ala.; sister, Betty Jean Adams, of Talladega, Ala.; brother, Jim Long, of Leeds, Ala.; and three grandchildren.The family will receive friends 10 – 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 20, the Cox-Gifford-Seawinds Funeral Home in Vero Beach with a life celebration beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 20, at the funeral home with Reverend Derrick West officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Ft. Pierce.Memorial contributions may be made to the VNA Hospice Foundation, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960.Arrangements are under the direction of Cox-Gifford-Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach.
