William E. Long

William E. Long, 58, resident of the Oakland Community and affectionately known as “Uncle Chuck” or Bill to his friends, left this world on October 15, 2012 doing what he loved to do, driving a truck. The accident happened in Brownsville, TN while he was delivering water to a well on a county road. He’s now driving for the angels.

A Celebration of Life Service for Mr. Long will be at 2 P.M. Sunday, November 11th at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Bro. Carl Doyle of Oakland officiating. Interment will be private. Arrangements will be provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center – West Chapel at Oakland.

He was born August 16, 1954 in Memphis, TN and he was a member of the first high school graduating class of Rossville Academy in 1969. During his high school years he played basketball, being the tallest player on the team at 6’3”. He served in the United States Navy between 1976 and 1982 touring the Mediterranean and many other countries. He was a nomad and free-spirited, working for numerous cable companies or driving an 18 wheeler, traveling throughout the United States from Florida to Utah and from Texas to New Jersey.

He loved unconditionally, whether it had two or four legs. He never married; living his life through simple pleasures, not caring what anyone thought of his crazy hair, what he said or drove, or how he lived. He found humor in everything with his infectious laugh being his trademark. He loved Christmas and always had a gift for everyone, even spending his last nickel to buy Christmas gifts. He loved to prowl flea markets, garage sales and junk stores to find the BEST Christmas presents. His family never knew what he would come in the door with wrapped in newspaper, cereal or tea boxes or anything else he could find. Those were the fun things that we still laugh about. One Christmas he bleached his beard white to see our reaction. He was our Santa Claus and will be sorely missed, particularly at Christmas.

He was an avid reader of science fiction and his favorite comic book character was Batman. He loved all types of music, ZZ TOP, Jimmy Buffett, Fleetwood Mac, but had a soft spot for The Carpenters. He loved to tinker on any type of motor or electrical equipment. He would gather up old bicycles and repair them, giving them to underprivileged kids.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, R.D. and Alma Ruth Long, brother, Earl A. Long, (2011) and nephew, Michael Mullins (2011). Left behind to remember his fun loving heart are his siblings, M. Gayle Buyny (Frank) of Bartlett, R. Glynn Long (Nancy) of Oakland and Emily L. Brooksbank (Walter) of Nesbit, MS; nephews, David Buyny (Lynn), Michael Andrew Long (Alyssa); nieces Lynda Murphy (Ralph), Sharon Litton (Doug) and Helen Oare (Jim); along with 4 great nieces and 3 great nephews: oh, and we can’t forget his favorite black cats – Pooky I & Pooky II. They will be lost without him but will be well taken care of.

His final wish was to be cremated and his ashes spread at Tunica Cutoff, MS where he spent many a day with his dad fishing and telling tall tales.