Lula Mae Long

Lula Mae Stilwell Long, 100, was born April 26, 1917, to Alva & Beulah Fay (Bebout) Stilwell. She entered God's glory on Friday, April 28, 2017. In her youth she was baptized along with her father in the Twin Cedar River. She graduated in 1934 from Hamilton High School, where she was a member of the basketball team. On July 15, 1934, she married Oliver Clifton Long. They were married 41 years and had two children: Norman Long and Pauline Long McMahon. After Oliver’s passing in 1975, Lula Mae compassionately cared for her mother-in-law, Maude Long for many years.

She worshipped the Lord at Chesterfield Christian Church and The Well Covenant Church. She worked at Look Magazine and as a Teacher's Associate.

Lula Mae followed Cyclone and Hawkeye basketball, completing her March Madness Bracket every year. Her grandchildren have great memories of her riding amusement park rides with them. Lula Mae hosted Christmas and Easter gatherings, passing on her delicious homemade noodles tradition. She enjoyed volunteering at the Chesterfield dining hall at the Iowa State Fair and at Ramsey Home. Playing drums in the Stonecrest Kitchen Band, traveling with her family, and watching grandchildren in various activities brought her great joy.

She looked forward to being reunited with these loved ones who passed before her: her parents, her husband Oliver, her son Norman, her daughter-in-law Pat Long, her younger brothers, Bernard and wife Vivian, Dale, and Clifford Stilwell, great-grandson Mason Mitchell Long, and step-mother Leona (Botts) Stilwell.

Her legacy lives on in her daughter and son-in-law Pauline and Cleon McMahon of Des Moines; sisters-in-law Wilda Stilwell of Des Moines, and Barbara Stilwell of Bend, Oregon; grandsons Mitchell Long, Barry and JoLynne Long, Corey Long, all of Des Moines; granddaughters LeAnne and Steve Getz of Urbandale, Laura and Todd Huffman of Overland Park, Kansas, Linda McMahon of Olathe, Kansas; 15 great-grandchildren, six great-great grandchildren, one great-great-great-granddaughter; and many adored nieces and nephews.

Lula Mae will be remembered as a sweet, loving, strong, spunky, vivacious, humorous, and faithful woman of God. Her family misses her and rejoices in the thought that she has heard the Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at The Well Covenant Church, 2625 Hubbell Ave., Des Moines. Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 pm on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon St., Des Moines. Burial will follow services at Hamilton Cemetery in Hamilton, Iowa.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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