In July of 1931, Myrtice Elizabeth Carr was born in Perdido Alabama.  Perdido, the Spanish word for 'lost' turned out to be a place of heartfelt belonging for Myrtice.  She grew up in the Southern forest tagging along with brothers Warren and Charles as they hunted small game and walking to school with sisters Ila Mae and Mildred.  Her brother Norman studied with her in the evenings by the light of an oil lamp following chores on the family farm.  Myrtice enjoyed skipping up the red sand country road to visit her maternal grandparents almost daily during her childhood.

Myrtice excelled in school later becoming a five time valedictorian upon completion of high school, business college in Birmingham, and earning bachelor's and master's degrees in teaching from the institution in Springfield, MO now Missouri State University.

Following business school Myrtice was recruited by J. Edgar Hoover's FBI to join them in Washington D.C. as part of their secretarial pool.   During this time while living in a boarding home for young women she met and married Homer Long.  She and Homer raised two children: Jeff lives in Shawnee, KS with wife Mary and Kara lives in Albuquerque, NM with husband Greg.

Jeff and Kara recall their Mom reading aloud from Charlotte's Web and The Trumpeter Swan as the family traveled South to visit Myrtice's mother Dausie.  Jeff and Kara remain avid readers today.

During her early married years, Myrtice tutored reading to inmates at the Federal Medical Prison in Springfield.  She later taught 1 ^st and 3 ^rd grade.  She was a long-time member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and participated in its transition to 'The Downtown Church'.

A private graveside ceremony was held for the immediate family on 11.13.20 at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Children's Literacy Initiative.