Mari Alice Long-Rader passed away Monday, Dec. 28, 2015 in the Kingston of Ashland nursing home. She was 88.
She was born March 29, 1927 to parents Budd and Elsie (Knightstep) Goodwin in Ontario. After Mari Alice graduated from Mansfield Senior High School with the class of 1945, she later went on to become the matriarch of her family and raise two wonderful children.
Her love for the Lord kept Mari Alice very active in her church, Chapel Hill United Methodist Church. She enjoyed playing the piano during worship, singing in the choir and also singing alongside the Sweet Adelines. Throughout the years Mari Alice was also involved with several community organizations and took pleasure in going to The Grange.
In her spare time, Mari Alice enjoyed cooking, baking and gardening. But above all, Mari Alice cherished spending time with her family. Christmases and family reunions with her will never be forgotten. She wrote and put together holiday skits. Mari Alice would have her whole family, begrudgingly at times, participate. With poems and written scripts, they acted out the skits along with props and costumes. At Christmas, everyone sang carols as she played the piano, cousins showed off their musical talent, and gag gifts were distributed that summed up the family member’s year. They were the “Best of Times.” These are some of her family’s fondest memories that will never be forgotten.
She is survived by children Dennis (Connie) Long of Orange Park, Florida, and Lora (Marty) Moritz, of Lexington; grandchildren Jason (Michelle) Dials, of Lexington, Ryan (Joy) Dials, of Lexington, Eric (Jen) Long, of Seattle, Washington, Keri (Roy) Lewis, of Jacksonville, Florida and Matthew Moritz, of Chicago, Illinois; step-grandchildren Scott Moritz and Jill McDougall, of Jacksonville, Florida; six great-grandchildren Alexis Dials, Jack Dials, Trevor Dials, Megan Dials, Sam Long, and Max Long; three step-great grandchildren Jakeb, Kaylie, Alexis and sister-in-law Osa Goodwin.
She was preceded in death by her first husband Eugene Forest Long, her parents, and her brother, Don Goodwin.
Mari Alice’s family will receive friends Monday, Jan. 4, 2016 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Finefrock Chapel of the Marion Avenue Snyder Funeral Home; along with a funeral service on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Pastor Laura White will be officiating with burial to follow in Mansfield Memorial Park.
For contributions in her memory, make checks payable to Chapel Hill United Methodist Church and bring or send to the funeral home: P.O. Box 3085, Mansfield, Ohio 44904.
Snyder Funeral Homes is honored to serve Mari Alice’s family and encourage you to share a fond memory or message of condolence to them at SnyderFuneralHomes.com.
