By Philip Phi
Posted Sep 17, 2026 at 3:01 AM
Ila Mae “Terry” Long, a beloved community member, passed away on October 13, 2018, at the age of 90. Born in Foster, Oklahoma, to Roy and Della (Shortes) Terrell, she grew up to become a cherished figure in her community, known for her warm smile and kind words. Terry’s journey began after graduating from Graham High School, leading her to Ardmore, where she worked as a secretary. It was there that she adopted the name Terry Terrell, a name that would become synonymous with dedication and service.
In 1952, Terry married Burl Thomas “Tom” Long, Jr., and together they built a life filled with mutual support and love, a partnership that lasted until Tom’s passing in 1988. Terry’s commitment to her family extended to her involvement with the PTA, where she served as President of Albert Pike Elementary School PTA in Fort Smith, Arkansas, earning her Lifetime Membership. Her dedication to education and community service continued when the family moved to Norman in 1965. Here, she worked as a secretary for the Oklahoma Economic Development Foundation and Monroe Elementary School, later volunteering at McFarlin United Methodist Church until the age of 79.
Terry’s legacy is carried on by her children, Steve and Sharon, and her grandchildren, Laura Parrish and Danny Wieland, as well as her great-grandson, William Parrish. Her brother, Walter Terrell, and her extended family and friends also remember her fondly. Terry’s life exemplifies the biblical call to love and serve one’s neighbors, as seen in Matthew 25:35, where acts of kindness and service are celebrated as service to Christ himself.
Terry’s funeral services will be held at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, with a private family graveside service at Elmore City Cemetery. Her family invites friends to join them in celebrating her life and legacy, reflecting on the impact of her kindness and dedication to community service. Terry Long’s life serves as a testament to the power of love, service, and the enduring bonds of family and community.
Source: Read the original report
Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
