Linda Long Obituary

On the 3rd of September 2024 Linda Ann Long, a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother passed away at CRMC in Coffeyville, Kansas.

Linda was born on April 7, 1944 in Goldsboro, North Carolina to Bython Luby Gurley and Mary Lucille (Mitchell) Watts. Linda and her family resided in Goldsboro living in what was known as a Rabbit Hutch a small two room house, she graduated from Goldsboro High School in 1960.

After graduation Linda married Gary Lee Noland Sr., the two met while Gary was station in North Carolina serving the US Air Force. Of that union two sons were born, George and Danny. The couple later divorced. Linda and the boys moved to Coffeyville where Gary’s parents offered them a place to stay to help Linda, and the boys get on their feet. She later met Herman R. Erwin and the two were later divorced.

Linda was a tough woman from working in the tobacco fields as a young woman in North Carolina, to being a divorced women trying to raise two children and attending Coffeyville Beauty College where she would later teach from time to time. She worked hard and went from working for Kelmir’s Beauty shop to owning her own Business Linda’s Beauty Barn in Dearing KS. She would start working before sunrise for teachers needing to get their hair done till sometime midnight for people that worked late. She beat lung cancer 10 years ago. She was always there if anyone needed anything she was a great mother she kept food on the table and roof over our heads and loved us with all her heart. She was married three times, but I truly think she found the love of her life when she met Evi (Dad) - he made her smile every day. Evi and Linda met in November of 1981 at the Country Inn in Dearing, that led to Evi frequenting the beauty shop for a haircut that let to marriage on November 24, 1982. The couple shared 42 years together. 

Linda most definitely knew Jesus and had accepted him as her Savior. She has finally received her wish she just wanted to see the face of God. Linda will be sorely missed by her husband Evi of the home, sons George (Mary) Noland, Danny Noland and his best friend Lana Noland, daughter Cassie Noland and fiancé Robert Grigsby, stepdaughter Rhonda (Erwin) Bolejack, twelve grandchildren, twenty-five great grandchildren, siblings Alton Gurley and Judy Prince. Linda is now at rest with her parents, stepfather Everett “Shorty” Watts, brother Wilton Gurley, and granddaughter Sammy Jo Noland and stepson Gary Noland Jr.. 

The register will be available for signing and viewing of Linda on Monday at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville from 1 to 5pm. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 at 1:00pm at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, Coffeyville with Pastor Matt Friese officiating from First Southern Baptist Church. The burial will follow at Robbins Cemetery. To view services, leave a message of condolence or share a memory visit Linda’s obituary page at www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com. Go sing to the Jesus and rejoice and dance like David did to celebrate Jesus.