Richard Thomas Long

Richard Thomas Long, 45, of Chelan, Wash., passed away suddenly Tuesday, February 20. He was born on April 10, 1972 in Brewster, Washington to Tommy Junior Long and Jewel Clark Long. He was a lifelong resident of Chelan and graduated Chelan high school in 1990, where he was a varsity athlete and regional FFA president. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1991, and earned the rank of airman while stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, where he served in law-enforcement.

He married Christina-Marie Stenerson in February 1994 at Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho. Their son, Leif, was born on September 23, 1994, and their marriage ended in 1998. They continued to co-parent Leif while continuing to share custody of her parents Dave and Melody Stenerson, and eventually each found their true soul mates.

Rick met Heidi Dodge in 1999 and instantly fell in love. One sweet smile and she captured his heart forever. They married on March 17, 2007. Heidi started their new lives together by fulfilling a lifelong dream of his, a beautiful daughter, Alisha Medeiros, as well as adding two sons, Kent Stanifer and Talon Long.

Rick was an active Eagles member serving two terms as president, following his great-grandfather Neal Clark’s footsteps who served as Washington state president in 1976. Rick had a varied career in the gaming industry until injured in 2015. Unwilling to remain idle, Rick started a new adventure by enrolling at Wenatchee Valley College, in the IT program. He had an almost perfect grade point average, and would have graduated at the top of his class with an Associate’s Degree in June.

Rick is survived by his loving wife Heidi Long, grandmother Marie Hughett, father Tommy Long, mother Jewel “Jody” Hughett, daughter Alisha Medeiros and her husband Nathan, three sons, Leif Long, Kent Stanifer, Talon Long, and grandson Michael Medeiros.

Rick was preceded in death by his grandparents, George and Inez Long, Neal and Mary Clark, dad Kenneth Hughett, uncle Dale Miller, uncle Larry Clark, aunt Peggy Clark, uncle Chubb Long, and nephews Jack Clark Hughett, Bradley Taylor, and Jess Dodge.

Rick was known for his beautiful smile, loving personality, and great big bear hugs. Rick may have been many things to many people, but what he will never be, is forgotten.

His celebration life service will be on Saturday, March 24, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Lake Chelan Eagles. There will be a grave side service at the Lake Chelan Fraternal Cemetery on Union Valley Road at 10 a.m. The funeral procession will be staged at the west parking lot of the Chelan High School at 9:15 a.m., and the procession to the grave side service will leave the west parking at 9:45 a.m. sharp and proceed through downtown Chelan and then on to the cemetery for military honors.