James Robert Long

James Robert “Bob” Long, age 74, of Etowah, passed away n Friday evening, September 30, 2016, at a local healthcare facility.  Born August 21, 1942 in Etowah to the late William G. and Mattie Sue Brown Long, he had lived a majority of his life in McMinn County before moving to Cleveland in 2010. Bob graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan with his Bachelor’s degree in “Biology” and received his Master’s degree in “Wildlife and Fishery Science” from the University Of Tennessee in Knoxville. He was an educator at McMinn County High School and recently retired after teaching 18 years at Chattanooga Central High School. His love and hobby was spending time outdoors tending to his gardening of exotic plants and enjoying nature. He was the owner and operator of the Four Seasons Nursery.

  He was the founder and President of “Extirpated Species Foundation” with focus in reintroducing locally extinct wildlife and native plants back into the Tennessee area.  Bob was responsible for conducting the feasibility study that led the re-introductory of Elk and Fishers back to Tennessee. He attended River Worship Center in Etowah and loved his family.

 He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Becky Long of Etowah; seven children and spouses, Lisa and Phil Howard of Cleveland,  Cindy and Tim Edwards of Cleveland, Lauren and Phil Carlin of Hendersonville, North Carolina, Heather and Billy Whittle of Navard, Florida, Jamie and April Long of Jackson, Georgia, Joey and Keona Morrow of Dayton, and Misty and Michael Mays of Knoxville; fifteen grandchildren, Paul Howard,  Brian Howard, Brooke Anderson, Brandon Edwards, Chase Austin , Chris Wolfe, Cameron Long, Sloan Long, Carol-Ann Carlin, Matthew Carlin, James Carlin, Jackson Whittle, Boston Morrow, Neyland Morrow, and Denver Morrow; nine great-grandchildren, Carter Edwards, Cate Edwards, Claire Edwards, Baylor Anderson, Fischer Anderson , Harper Anderson, Eli Eagle, Ethan Eagle, and Anna Eagle; sisters, Mary  and Tommy Wallace of Conyers, Georgia and Susan and Lee Crawford of Canton, Georgia. Several extended family and numerous friends also survive.

 A Celebration of Life and Home going for Bob Long will be held at 2p.m. Wednesday, October 5, 2016 from the chapel of Serenity Funeral Home with Pastor Pat McCulley officiating. Interment will follow in the Green Hill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5-8p.m. Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at the funeral home.

We invite you to sign the guestbook at this site.