Vicki Margo Long, 56
Vicki Margo Long, 56, of Sandpoint, Idaho, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004.
She was born to Walter W. and Annette Marie Long on Aug. 19, 1948 in Urbana, Illinois. A celebration of her life will be held at Lakeview Funeral Home on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004, at 4 p.m. with a reception potluck to follow at Tea Aunan's home at 424 Superior.
Born to a military family, Vicki moved often, residing in Dayton, Ohio; Montgomery, Ala.; Rome, N.Y.; Denver and Colorado Springs, Colo.; Wiesbaden, Germany; and graduated from High School in Annandale, Va. Vicki went on to graduate from Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colorado with a bachelor of arts degree in German.
She then moved to Albuquerque, N.M. Vicki received a master's degree in special education from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. Vicki married Pat Morris in Albuquerque and they later divorced.
She went on to massage school in Albuquerque, then met and married Samuel Mahaffy. Their son, Sylvan Mahaffy Long was born in 1984 in Albuquerque. They moved to Sandpoint to raise their son in a small-town environment. Vicki had found Sandpoint between her undergraduate and graduate schooling when she sold jewelry. She was later divorced from Samuel Mahaffy. She also had picked fruit in Wenatchee, worked for the telephone company in Albuquerque, and for the La Montanita Co-op in Albuquerque.
Vicki worked at Coldwater Creek, taught special education and gifted and talented at the Southside and the Washington Elementary Schools. She traveled extensively to Europe, and fell in love with Bali, Indonesia. Vicki made several trips there, and was accepted as a part of the Nyoman Gede family. She felt at home in the culture and deeply connected with the families there. Vicki lived in Sandpoint for 19 years. She was diagnosed with cancer in December 2002.
Above all, Vicki loved being a mother and did a wonderful job of it. It was her proudest accomplishment. She loved music and dance, especially gospel and Balinese gamelan.
Vicki loved intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth in all forms. She enjoyed massage, meditating, philosophical and psychological discussions, and learning about holistic medicine. Vicki found peace and insight in nature, taking long walks with her friends by the lake, and also kayaking. She loved to teach social justice and human rights, passing on the things she learned for herself.
Being very people-focused she reached out to people, keeping up friendships from high school, and continually establishing deep friendships. She sought honest, heartfelt relationships with all that were around her and taught others to do the same.
She volunteered with hospice and helped others to learn that emotional honesty and truth are very important.
Vicki is survived by her son, Sylvan M. Long; her sister, Toni Stovall; her father, Walter Long; her stepmother, Carlene Long; her nieces, Cyndi and Amy and numerous family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to the Bonner Community Hospice, 520 North Third, P.O. Box 1448, Sandpoint, ID 83864.
Now that her soul is dancing free, we will celebrate her life at the Lakeview Funeral Home at the corner of Olive and Superior at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004, with a reception potluck at Tea Aunan's home at 424 Superior to follow.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint. Please visit Vicki's online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her online guest book.