George William Long

George William Long, 91 years old, transitioned to Heaven on May 14, 2025. George was born on May 6, 1934, in Shattuck, Oklahoma to Bill Long and Lillian (Higgs) Long.

George met the love of his life, JoElla Halford, in 1953 while working at the Morley Theater in Borger Texas as a projectionist and JoElla as the cashier. He was 19 and she was 17 when they were married on Dec. 3, 1953.

George attended Frank Phillips College to continue his education, transferring to Texas Tech University where he graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

Along the way the family grew with son Mikeal Long born in 1958, daughter Katherine Long born in 1960, and daughter Rebecca Long born in 1961.

After graduating college, George went to work for Phillips Petroleum Company in Borger, Texas. George was known for his dedication, strong work ethic, and innovative contributions during his tenure with Phillips Petroleum Company. He would go on to work for Phillips for his entire career before retiring to their home in Fritch, Texas in 1993.

The family transferred to many places while George worked for Phillips. They left Borger in 1966 and moved to Sweeny, Texas. In 1973, the family moved to Phillips’ Corporate Headquarters in Bartlesville, Oklahoma where George worked for Applied Automations, a subsidiary of Phillips Petroleum Company. In 1975, George and the family were transferred to Yarm, Yorkshire, England where George was supervisor of a team that installed Automated Control Systems into a new site called Teesside, an oil terminal facility that brought in oil via pipelines from the North Sea and Ekofisk.

The children attended a private American Boarding School called Herringswell Manor School, close to Cambridge, England. In 1979, with the kids grown and gone, George and JoElla transferred back to Borger Texas where they would remain through retirement and beyond, living in Fritch, Texas.

George's main hobby was motorcycles, especially flat track racing, where he once ranked 6th nationally in the AMA Amateur Class. He and his family loved camping outdoors, spending vacations every summer in New Mexico and the Colorado Rockies fishing and riding motorcycle trail bikes. He began cycling in his 50s, riding over 15 miles daily and competing in numerous 150-mile races. He continued riding bicycles into his early 80s. He enjoyed NASCAR Racing and had season tickets at Texas Motor Speedway for 26 years. Most Sunday afternoons, he watched NASCAR on TV from his easy chair.

In retirement, George also gave back to his community by joining the Borger Kiwanis club and participating in all their efforts for the children of the community. He also joined HutchCares of Borger, helping the Ramp Building Ministry build numerous wheelchair ramps for those who couldn't afford them.

George and JoElla traveled the world together in retirement. If they were not traveling to exotic locals, they were driving across America and seeing all they could see.

George was predeceased by his parents, Bill and Lillian Long, his brother, David Long, his sister, Ann Marie (Long) Chrisman, and his cherished wife, JoElla (Halford) Long. George is survived by his children: Mike Long (wife Linda), Kathy Long, and Becky Bodey. Grandchildren Rachel Wimmer (companion Craig Woolfolk), Tiffanny Toups (husband Mathew), Bobbi Garcia (husband Thomas Bates), Joshua Patten (companion Keith Day), William Marshall, Harley Marshall, Michael Justice, David Bodey, Matt Reeves (wife Savanah), Michel Simer (husband Bob). George also had 9 Great Grandchildren and 3 Great-Great Grandchildren with 3 more Great-Great Grandchildren due in July and August.

 Funeral services will be at St. Andrews Methodist Church on May 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be in Garber Cemetery, Garber, OK on May 23, 2025, at 11:00 am under the direction of Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. There will be a family and friends visitation on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Please direct donations on his behalf to: Borger Kiwanis Club P.O. Box 775 Borger, TX, Texas 79008 or Hutch Cares of Borger P.O. Box 3031 Borger, Texas 79008