Page 19 - Newsletter_Summer_2018

A Promise Kept

I often write stories that go back to High School Reunions, special friendships that last a lifetime and this is one
with an interesting ending that needs to be written now.

This new friend was Lois McKay when we were freshman at HHS, then as members of same Sunday School class.
After high school, she trained for three years at Madigan Memorial Hospital and became a Registered Nurse.

In 1942 she married Eugene Long and lived at 19 Hogan St. in Houlton where they became the parents of three
boys, David, John and Gordon. In 1955, Gene said he was tired of shoveling snow so he and Lois had the courage
to leave Maine and find a warmer climate to make a living and a home for the family. California was chosen from
other possibilities. They lived in Glendale, Escondido and finally in Santa Maria.

In 2006, when Gene died, and a final resting place was discussed, Lois asked that when her time came, the three
sons would bring the ashes of both Mom and Dad back to the family plot at Evergreen Cemetery . The promise was
made and in September 2017, Lois passed away.

David called me with that sad news knowing that his mother and I had been close friends for many years. He told
me then that he and his brothers would be coming here in the spring bringing their parents ashes for the burial.

A few weeks ago when their plans were made to fly here, he tried to reach me, as Lois had asked him to do but
couldn’t find the info he needed---what to do ?---Julia is a Methodist, like Mom-------I will call the church and ask
for Julia’s phone number or ask the secretary to deliver my message. Kathy did call and David and I did talk later
that evening. I was excited when he said he would be in town and call me within a few days.

The three sons flew into Bangor on Wednesday, April 25th, 2018.They drove to Island Falls where they had very nice
accomodations waiting, caught up on their sleep, and though Thursday was a rainy day,they did get arrangements
made for the burial on Friday. It was a beautiful sunny day and meeting Milton Cone, the custodian of Evergreen
Cemetery, was a pleasure also. They felt he was an asset to Houlton and when the subject of fiddleheads came up,
the boys expressed the fact they were too early for them. Milton said, maybe not, hang in here a few minutes and let
me see what I can come up with. He left them for a time, but returned a few minutes later with two bags of frozen
fiddleheads. The boys took them back to their rooms and enjoyed them for supper. However they did have to make
a quick visit to a store to buy a bottle of vinegar! They were happy campers!

David called me that evening to bring me up-to-date of all their doings and said they planned to see me the next
morning. So on Saturday, at 10 am, I met all three of Lois’ boys. I asked about Lois and Gene’s “resting place” and
they offered to take me there so I could say my “Good Bye” to my classmate and long time friends.

Later they invited me to join them and two other friends at the Elm Tree Diner for lunch where the boys reminisced
of their interest of schools, cars, and memories of neighbors of long ago. Lots of laughter told me they were relaxed
and having fun.

After leaving the Diner, they asked me to be their “Tour Guide”, as they wanted to see the house where their mother
had grown up and a few other places of interest around town. Once we were back to my apartment, David said “I
would like a picture”, and he soon had one - “A Selfie”, he said, and a few hours later, he sent it to me via email. For
once my printer worked at first attempt, so I have a nice picture of my three new friends.

After a few more days, in the town of their birthplace, they were like tourists,. They ate seafood at Grammy’s in
Linneus, went to Canada, and made contact with some cousins and friends of their parents that are still in the area.
They left on Tuesday, May 1st with their Promise Kept, and happy that they could do it, while spending a week
enjoying each others company.

I am happy to have met them. Their Mother and father would have been proud and happy for their three sons that
showed such Love, Respect and Goodness, and to carry on the family name of LONG...... .

Written by Julia Gentle Craigs ‘37 May 15, 2018

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