Velnita Sue “DeeDee” Long got her Heavenly wings on Nov. 19, 2022. Born April 28, 1952, in Los Angeles, Calif., to Donald and Sylvia Newton, she grew up mostly in Gallup, N.M., and Joseph City. She loved to sing. It truly was her passion! She sang semi-professionally throughout the 1970s, including background vocals for several well-known performers. She met her soulmate in Rusty Long and they married Feb. 14, 1981. Through good times and bad, they were solid as a rock! DeeDee is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, Byron and Velma Newton, and Victor and Juanita Parker. She’s survived by her loving husband, Rusty; four children, Don, Heidi and Vaughn Goodpaster and Travis Long; four grandchildren, Ethan, Eli, Erin and Dylan Goodpaster; two brothers, Victor and Vaughn; and her sister, Verna. Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 28, with visitation one hour prior at the Joseph City Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Interment followed at the Joseph City Cemetery. Owens Livingston Mortuary of Show Low handled the arrangements.
