Vivian Emma (Knepp) Long

Vivian Emma (Knepp) Long, age 100, died peacefully at Avamere Assisted Living in Portland, Oregon on Monday, March 28, 2016.

She was born November 27, 1915 in Battle Creek, Michigan the daughter of A. Roy and Golda Almena (Cooley) Knepp. Vivian was a 1934 National Honorary Society graduate of Battle Creek Central High School and earned her Bachelor's Degree in History and English from Michigan State University in 1938, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, Beta Pi Chapter.

Vivian Emma Knepp was united in marriage to Dr. Gordon H. Long at the First Congregational Church in Battle Creek on July 22, 1939. Sadly, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon on January 30, 2004. Surviving are her daughter, and son-in-law, Malinda and Loren "Luke" Lennon of Portland, Oregon; and nephews, David Hurley of Battle Creek, MI, Phillip Hurley of Hastings, MI and Richard Hurley of Portland, OR. In addition to her husband, Vivian was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Arlene Knepp Hurley

She was a Heritage member of the First Congregational Church, where she taught Sunday school, and was a charter member of the Parish Circle. Vivian served six years on the B.C. Town Hall Celebrity Series Board, was a McKinley School PTA volunteer, served as room mother and as a Blue Bird and Camp Fire leader. She was active in the Southern Michigan and National Podiatry Auxiliaries and was a charter member, officer and life member of the Battle Creek Auxiliary. Vivian served six years on the Kappa Alpha Theta, Pi Chapter advisory board at Albion College. She loved traveling with her husband throughout the world and fulfilled an 8th grade dream to walk on the Great Wall of China. In 1994, she and Gordon moved to Fayetteville, NC to be near their daughter and son-in-law. She pursued her hobbies of genealogy, keeping abreast of political and world events, and kept in contact with her lifelong friends in Battle Creek. After Gordon's death, Vivian moved to Portland, OR with her daughter and son-in-law. Vivian learned sewing and embroidery from her grandma, which she enjoyed all her life. More than anything, Vivian loved caring for and spending time with her family.

Friends will be received 6:30-8:00 p.m. Thursday at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care. Funeral services will be officiated by Rev. James L. Sparks at the funeral home 1:00 p.m. Friday, April 8, 2016. Entombment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in memory of Vivian may be made for the Bell Tower at MSU (Please make donations payable to: Beaumont Tower Society, 435 Chestnut Rd., East Lansing, MI 48824); or to the Kappa Alpha Theta House (Checks should be made out to Beta Pi House Corporation Capital Campaign and mailed C/o: Donna Gainer, 2425 Emerald Lake Drive, East Lansing, MI 48823. Personal messages or remembrances for the family may be placed here at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.