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Donald John Long, known by family and friends as Don passed away on December 31, 2014 with family at his side. Don was born in Southern California on November 25, 1929 to Clayton and Margaret Long. Shortly after his birth his father moved the family to Fowler, CA where Don lived on the family’s farm. Don was proud Fowler Fowler Redcat and excelled in track, winning the Valley Championship in the 1320 distance run and was also Student Body President. After High School, Don went to Fresno State and Stanford earning his undergraduate degree and Masters degree in education. In August 1950 he married his sweetheart Marlene “Marte” Pedreira and raised their three sons in Fresno. He started his short teaching career at Roeding Elementary School and from there was a teacher and Dean of Boys at Wawona Jr. High School. Don always enjoyed his close friends from his years in education and the students he would run into over the years. After several years in education he went into business with his father at Valley Pipe & Supply. Don was an outside salesman for the company for many years before coming back in the office to work along side his father. Don became the President of Valley Pipe & supply in the 1970’s and retired in 1994. Their cabin at Huntington Lake was favorite spot for them, spending summers there with their three sons and later their grandchildren and many of their closest friends. Don loved the outdoors, fishing at Huntington Lake and the small backcountry lakes in the area surrounding Huntington. In the last several years Don spent most of this time as his wife Marte’s caretaker who suffered from dementia before finally moving her into an assisted care home for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. He would visit her every day and sometimes twice a day until he also moved into the same assisted care home. Don is survived by his wife “Marte” Long, son’s Michael Long, Mitchell Long and his wife Debbie, Charles Long and his wife Elaine, mother-in-law Laverne Pedreira, Brother-in-law Tom Pedreira and his wife Vicky and grandchildren Chris Long and wife Stephanie, Lindsey Long and Laura Long and great granddaughter Hayden Long. Don will be missed by his family and friends. In Lou of flowers remembrances can be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation of Central California P.O. Box 3438, Fresno, CA 93650 or UCSF Fresno Alzheimer’s & Memory Center 6137 N. Thesta St., Fresno, CA 93710

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Donald John Long

November 25, 1929 - December 31, 2014