Linda Berniece Hall Long, age 67, passed away peacefully at Honor-Health/John C Lincoln North Mountain Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday, March 15, 2016. She fought a valiant battle with renal failure and suffered severe head trauma after a recent fall. Her devotion to her family and firm belief in God supported her in her struggles and ultimately gave her peace.
Linda was born to the late Robert Dempster Smith and Virginia Page Hancocks on May 28, 1948, in Oakland, California. She was raised in a Christian home in San Leandro, CA along with her older sister Bonnie. Together they took classical piano lessons from the organist, Mrs. Thompson, at the First Presbyterian Church for many years. Her love of music stayed with her throughout her entire life and enabled her to bless many others with her musical talents. As a child, she also enjoyed being in a Girl Scout Brownie troop. She attended McKinley Elementary School, Bancroft Junior High, San Leandro High School, but ult
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Linda Berniece Hall Long, age 67, passed away peacefully at Honor-Health/John C Lincoln North Mountain Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday, March 15, 2016. She fought a valiant battle with renal failure and suffered severe head trauma after a recent fall. Her devotion to her family and firm belief in God supported her in her struggles and ultimately gave her peace.
Linda was born to the late Robert Dempster Smith and Virginia Page Hancocks on May 28, 1948, in Oakland, California. She was raised in a Christian home in San Leandro, CA along with her older sister Bonnie. Together they took classical piano lessons from the organist, Mrs. Thompson, at the First Presbyterian Church for many years. Her love of music stayed with her throughout her entire life and enabled her to bless many others with her musical talents. As a child, she also enjoyed being in a Girl Scout Brownie troop. She attended McKinley Elementary School, Bancroft Junior High, San Leandro High School, but ultimately graduated from Skyline High School in Oakland, California in May of 1966.
Linda moved to Oakland Hills with her mother at the age of 16. Every day on the bus ride to and from school, she watched the construction of the Oakland California LDS Temple and wondered aloud what this beautiful building was. A student answered and invited her to the pre-dedicatory open house tours. Soon after, she was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
On September 2, 1966, Linda married a young Navy sailor whom she met at a social activity for military servicemen. They enjoyed 27 years together while raising two children. She was a homemaker and loved being a mom. She always had time for her kids or anybody in need. She loved to laugh, play games, read books, camp outdoors and was very active in her church. She was a gifted, published writer. In 1997 she re-married and has enjoyed being a grandmother to five grandchildren over the past 22 years.
Many, who celebrate the fact that she is re-united with loved ones and her Heavenly Father, will dearly miss Linda. She is finally home, whole and free of earthly health challenges of which she endured for so many years.
Survivors include her husband of almost 19 years, Ronald Long, her sister, Bonnie Stephens, of Auburn, California, her two children: Sheila Daniel of Salida, California and Robert Hall of New River, Arizona.
A Memorial Service will be held at 6 p.m., Sunday, March 20, at the Anthem LDS Chapel, 2503 W Anthem Way, Anthem, AZ. Read Less
