Royce Gwyn Long, 1935–2021
Royce Gwyn Long, 85, went home to be with his Lord on Saturday, February 20, 2021.
Born at home in Girard, Texas, on December 31, 1935, Gwyn was the oldest of three children of Willis Jewel Long and Thelma Lou (Jac) Luna Long. He lived in Girard until the family moved to Bizbee, Arizona, when he was 3 years old. After about four years, they returned to Girard to the farm, where he stayed until graduation from Girard High except for a couple of years in Wink, Texas. While in Wink he was classmates with Roy Orbison. After graduation, he worked in construction before entering the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force, he was a mechanic on officer’s planes. He received an honorable discharge in September 1959.
On October 3, 1959, Gwyn married the love of his life, Janis Ara Gregory in Girard. They were married for almost 61 years until Janis’ death in June 2020.
After they married, they lived in Lubbock where he worked as a mechanic at Western Implement for a couple of years. Then, because of the call of farming in his blood, he moved to Dickens County, where he farmed until he retired in 2011.
He was always an active part of his community. He served on the Spur ISD Board, the Farmers Coop Board, the Valley Water Board, and the Dickens County Water District Board.
He was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ. He served as a deacon for 10 years then as an elder for almost 20 years for the Highway 70 Church of Christ. Gwyn was always willing to help those in need.
He was preceded in death by Janis and both of his parents. He is survived by two daughters and a son, Tonya Kelsey and her husband, Kelly, of Spur, Curtis Gwyn Long of Cleburne, Monique Pyle and her husband, Greg, of Denton; his sister, Joyce Wallace of Lubbock, and brother Derrell Long and wife, Shirley, of Jayton; seven grandchildren, Brittany Long, Guthrie Gwyn Long and his wife, Stevie, Dakota Parker and her husband, Damion, Sierra Marcell, Mylea Pyle, Margery Pyle, and Veronica Pyle; and five great-grandchildren, Jaelyn, Cooper Gwen, Rheagan, Keagan and Colson; along with numerous other family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in memory of Gwyn to your favorite charity or the Disabled American Veterans Thrift Store in Lubbock, the Children’s Home of Lubbock, or Hwy. 70 Church of Christ in Spur, Texas
