Marilyn Sue Long, 76, of Elk City, Oklahoma, passed away on March 14, 2026, at the age of 76 years, 1 month, and 14 days. She was born January 28, 1950, in Hinton, Oklahoma, the youngest of three children born to Edward "Bud" Mapes and Erma Mapes.

Marilyn grew up on a farm southeast of Hinton, where she learned early the values of hard work, humility, faith, and family. She was raised in the First Baptist Church of Hinton, where her faith became a cornerstone of her life and guided her through every season. Those same values shaped the home she built with her family and continue to live on through her children and grandchildren.

She graduated from Hinton High School in 1968 as the salutatorian of her class. Marilyn was not only a standout student but also a talented athlete. Her basketball scoring average became something of a family legend—one she rarely brought up unless her children started talking a little too confidently about their own athletic abilities.

After high school she attended Southwestern State College, but fate had other plans for her future. While recovering from an appendectomy in the hospital, she met the love of her life, Robert "Bob" Long, who happened to be a nurse's aide. Apparently, kindness, charm, and good timing go a long way. The two were married on June 6, 1969, in the cozy living room of her parents' farmhouse and went on to share 42 wonderful years together before Bob's passing in 2011.

Bob and Marilyn began their life together in Weatherford, Oklahoma, where Marilyn worked as a dental assistant. Their world changed forever on December 21, 1972, with the arrival of their daughter, Angella Dawn. Angie's entrance into the world was anything but ordinary. After their van broke down on a cold, rainy night while returning from Marilyn's parents' house, a highway patrol officer rushed Marilyn to the hospital in his cruiser. Bob always said that dramatic arrival explained a lot about Angie's personality.

Marilyn soon decided to stay home with her new baby, but "stay home" didn't mean slow down. She kept books for a trucking company and developed quite a reputation decorating cakes. She made cakes for just about every occasion imaginable but especially enjoyed creating celebration cakes for the Southwestern Oklahoma State University athletic teams.

Their family became complete on October 24, 1977, when their son, Aaron Christopher, arrived—the boy they had long hoped for and who balanced out the household perfectly.

Marilyn continued decorating cakes and bookkeeping until the family moved to Geary in 1984. There she started keeping the books full-time for Bob at the True Value Hardware store. Around that time she picked up what she liked to call a "little hobby"—volunteering as an Emergency Medical Technician for the local ambulance service. Most people collect stamps or garden. Marilyn responded to emergency calls.

In 1988, the Long family moved to Erick, Oklahoma, where Bob managed the True Value Hardware store. Marilyn continued bookkeeping and soon became the unofficial expert on plumbing and electrical questions. If someone came into the store confused about a project, chances were Marilyn would help them figure it out. At the same time, she stayed involved with the ambulance service and eventually began working at Sayre Hospital before moving into home health care. She spent countless miles driving country roads to care for patients, treating every single one of them like family.

During the Erick years, both Angie and Aaron were busy with sports, and Marilyn never missed a game. Sometimes she was the only fan in the stands on a freezing baseball night, wrapped in a sleeping bag with only her face showing—hands sneaking out occasionally to clap for the entire team. And if a coach needed a little "encouragement," Marilyn was more than willing to attend a practice or two.

Bob and Marilyn truly felt like they won the family lottery when two more "kids" joined the crew—Joey in 1992 when he married Angie, and Jamie in 2000 when she married Aaron.

In 2001, Bob and Marilyn returned to Weatherford, where Marilyn went to work at the hospital and soon took charge of the newly established sleep lab. For nearly eight years she got paid to creepingly watch people sleep as sleep therapist.

Her love of sports continued, now focused on her grandchildren. Every Saturday morning Bob would have the truck warmed up and ready. After working all night on Friday, Marilyn would climb in beside him and they'd head off to softball, baseball, soccer, or football games. She might sneak in a quick power nap between games, but she never missed the chance to cheer, encourage, and beam with pride.

After retiring, Marilyn moved to Elk City to be closer to her grandchildren and fully embrace her role as their number-one fan. Even when her health made it harder to attend games in person, she still watched every livestream she could find. She wasn't about to miss the action if she could help it.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bob; her parents; her sister, Ladonna Barr; her brother, Alvin Ray Mapes; her in-laws Jim and Annabelle Smith and Leo and Juanita Long; along with many aunts, uncles, and relatives who surely welcomed her with open arms.

She is survived by her children, Angie and Joey Bales and Aaron and Jamie Long, all of Elk City, Oklahoma; her grandchildren Robyn Bales, Matt Bales and fiancée Mia, Aden Long, and Madilynn Long; her brother-in-law Jim Barr of Conway, Arkansas, and James D. Smith of Weatherford, Oklahoma; along with a large group of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who were lucky enough to know her.

Memorial donations may be made to the S.E.R.V.E. Society at 10781 N. 1990 Rd., Elk City, OK 73644, or to Great Plains Bank, 2017 W. 3rd Street, Elk City, OK 73644, Attn: S.E.R.V.E. Society.