William (Bill) Lee Long was born in Clinton, Missouri the son of Marvin L. Long and Nellie M. Loyd Long on December 12, 1938 and passed away October 30, 2015 at Golden Living Center-Westwood in Clinton, Missouri at the age of 76. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at Vansant-Mills Funeral Chapel, Clinton, Missouri. Visitation will be one hour prior to funeral. Interment will follow at Englewood Cemetery, Clinton, Missouri. Family suggests memorial contributions to Crossroads Hospice and can be left in care of funeral home. Condolences and fond memories may be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.

After high school Bill attempted to enlist in the Armed Services but was turned down because he had suffered polio as a child.

As a young boy he was always taking things apart and putting them back together, just to see how they worked. His mother would say that she thought he was born with a wrench in his hand. It was a skill that would serve him well as he grew into adulthood; he secured employment with Hendrich Bro's Equipment Co. and worked for them a number of years before opening his own shop doing welding and mechanical repairs and at the same time he also farmed.

On September 3, 1976 he was married to M. Louise Martin in Miami, Oklahoma. When they pulled up to the toll booth to ask the attendant for directions to the wedding chapel, before Bill could get the question out of his mouth the attendant just gave them directions. I guess it was a popular place.

Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing, stock car racing, watching Nascar racing, and tractor pulling. When he pulled into a tractor pull in Kansas one time one of the guys yelled "Bill Long don't you ever stay at home." He also enjoyed going to the coffee shop and visiting with his friends.

Bill is survived by his wife Louise of the home; one son Billy Don Long of Baytown, Texas; one daughter Becky Dawn Long of Baytown, Texas; four grandchildren: Chelsea Dawn Dody and husband Kenneth of Clinton, Missouri; Autumn Hunt of Clinton, Missouri; B.J. Murphy of Clinton, Missouri and Jack Long of Baytown, Texas; and one sister Nancy Davis and husband Wilford of Ft. Meyers, Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three uncles, his nephew, Michael Davis and his best friend, Deputy Dog.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, Missouri.