Mary was born in Santa Barbara, Ca to James Emslie and Eleanor Chapek Emslie. She was raised in San Luis Obispo, Ca and is survived by her sister, Marjory of Dinuba, Ca, her four children, Jim, Jan, Scott and Chuck, 12 grandchildren and eight great- grandchildren. 

   Mary was married to William Long, a native Mantecan, hog farmer and San Joaquin County Ag inspector. Bill and Mary met in San Luis Obispo while he was attending Cal Poly. They were married in 1952. They raised their four children in Manteca. Upon Bill's death in 2006 Mary moved to their mountain cabin in Pioneer, Ca. The last four years of her life were spent near her daughter, Jan, in Caldwell, Idaho.  After raising her family, Mary went back to school to become a primary school teacher for 20 years in the Manteca Unified School District.  Mary was prolifically creative, spending her retirement years painting, knitting and quilting She traveled to Scotland in 2018 with her son, Chuck and his wife, Sara Brophy Long to visit her father's homeland. The trip was a highlight of her life.

Mary reconnected with her high school sweetheart, Howard Gill of Visalia, Ca in 2008. They remained good friends, often fishing, camping and spending holidays with family until his death in 2012.

   A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on September 19th at the Chez Shari, 305 N. Union St., Manteca, Ca 95337. You are invited to join the family and share your memories of Mary.

   Donations, in lieu of flowers, to go to: Manteca Historical Society, P.O. Box 907, Manteca, Ca  95336

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin

Wednesday, September 13, 2023