Cheryl June Nix Long, a remarkable pillar of the community, passed away peacefully at home on January 29, 2022. Lovingly and respectfully, she carried the titles of Mother, Grandma-ma, Grandma Ice Cream, Friend, Teacher, and Mentor throughout her life. With 35 years of teaching, consisting mostly of third-grade students in Washington Elementary School in Phoenix, Cheryl influenced hundreds of children in positive ways through her loving and tender heart. Her kindness continued to bless the lives of others through her service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all organizations. Her callings included leadership positions in both ward and stake Young Women and Relief Society. In addition, she served on the Young Women leadership board for the regional conference “Horizons 84.” In the community, she worked on the Arizona State Junior Miss Committee and helped with the “Make it With Wool” program. Phoenix was her home for most of her life, but she spent the last twenty years in Mesa, Arizona to be closer to family. She is survived by her life-long friend and love, Ed Long, who cherishes her memory and the life they built and shared together for nearly 75 years of marriage. Cheryl considers her greatest contribution to the world to be her two daughters: Cheryl Partridge (Scott) and Carolyn Guptill (Gene). The real stars in her eyes were her seven grandchildren: Amy Grover (Scott), Lindsay Ruezga (Antonio), Ryan Partridge (Jennifer), Holly Baumbach (Adam), Chris Partridge (Cassi), Brett Partridge (Stephanie), and Kaley Farnsworth (Chase), not to mention her 26 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, John Garnett Nix and Norma Guthrie Nix, along with her three brothers, John Carl, David Garnett, and Norman Wylie Nix, and three sisters, Margaret Jeanne Wright, Mary Louise Elliott, and Lura Emmaline Nix who now welcome her home.
While her body is laid to rest, her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone who had the privilege to be her student, which were all who knew her. A teacher by nature, she was able to inspire with her calm, reassuring, tender care. To reiterate the words of poet, Kevin William Huff:
For our future brightens
With each lesson you teach
Each smile you lengthen
Each goal you help reach
For the dawn of each poet
Each philosopher and king
Begins with a Teacher
And the wisdom they bring.
She gave us the world; she truly made our futures brighter. Loved ones will be sharing stories of remembrance and honoring her in a Celebration of Life, February 11, 2022, at 10 am, preceded by a viewing from 9-10am and the previous evening (Feb.10) from 6-8pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Mountain View Stake Center 1550 N. Val Vista Mesa, Arizona 85213. To join remotely: http://zoom.us/j/99757140641. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Humanitarian Philanthropies.
Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
Grandma Ice Cream? I need to hear the story on that. What a fun Grandma 🙂
Such a caring giving person….no wonder Carolyn is the same. She had a great teacher.
So sorry for your loss.
I agree with my sister Patti! She sounds so wonderful. I see the resemblance to my sister-in-law Carolyn. Special lady who lived a full and loving life. A true treasure.
Role Model, Mentor, Friend. Mrs Long was the first to encourage me to be a fearless teacher, to advocate for my students. She was passionate about the vocation of teaching. She would “go to bat” for every one of her students and often their families. I wrote in my graduation mission, “Education is about the whole child.” I learned that from Mrs. Long.
My entire vocation was formed around that simple phrase. When it was no longer my time in to be in the classroom, it swayed my passion to love my family fully.
Always a loving member of her faith community, I cannot describe how her powerful beliefs influenced so many without a single word. Now she has joined the Community of Heavenly Saints. Take care of heaven for us Mrs. Long. I know you will be talking to God about the kids in the back row!
Our deepest condolences to Carolyn and her wonderful family. Mothers are so beautiful and special to a family and we know the loss of someone so special is always difficult. We love you and are thinking of you.
I am adding this a little late since I no longer live in Phoenix and was not aware of her passing. I am one of the lucky 3rd graders at Washington Elementary to have Mrs. Long as a teacher. I remember her as being nurturing and caring. Still remember her 60+ years later.