Carolyne Susanne Long

Carolyne Susanne Long, 81, of Amarillo, TX died Saturday, December 31, 2022.

Memorial services will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 7, 2023, at St. Stephen United Methodist Church with Jim Smith officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to either the John R. Collard Jr. or Marjorie Collard scholarship funds at Amarillo College, or the High Plains Children’s Home and Family Services.

Carolyne was born February 26, 1941, in Albuquerque, NM to John R. Collard Jr. and Marjorie Collard. She married Ron Long on December 23, 1966, in Spearman, TX.

Carolyne was a member of St. Stephen United Methodist Church and multiple fraternal organizations such as Sigma Tau Delta, Delta Kappa Gamma, Delta Zeta, Alpha Chi, and Tau Beta during her time at West Texas State University, where she earned her bachelor and master degrees in education. She retired with 38 years of service as a teacher and licensed counselor, starting at Travis Middle School and ultimately retiring as the director of career counseling at Amarillo College. She fondly remembered some of her original students at Travis and had a true passion for helping students take their first steps in their career endeavors. Carolyne was a true pioneer for women in the workplace and had a passion for helping women pave the way to success.

A true child of the Texas Panhandle, Carolyne loved the land. She worked tirelessly managing family farm and ranch land scattered over the Panhandle while working with farmers to grow crops like wheat, corn and cotton. One of her favorite activities was visiting the land, something she did right up until the final months of her life.

After retiring from Amarillo College, Carolyne focused her efforts on another passion, quilting. She spent many years as a co-owner of the Sisters Scraps quilting store, where she combined her artistic and teaching abilities by instructing others in the fine art of quilt making.

Those that had the pleasure of knowing Carolyne know that she loved the Lord with all her heart and spent years teaching Sunday school. She shared her faith with anyone that would listen and prayed for her family and friends fervently. She loved to laugh and had a smile that lit up the room. Her greatest pride and joy after being a wife and mother was being “Grammy” to her grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Ron Long, of the home; two sons, Jerry Long and his partner Lindsay Fassauer, of Austin, and Lance Long and his wife Amanda Long, of Canyon, TX; a sister, Helen Red, of Amarillo, TX; a brother, Thomas Collard, of Allen, TX; cousins, Randy Collard, of Poulsbo, WA,D’dee Collard, of Port Aransas, TX, Nöel Newhouse, of San Antonio, Texas, and Barry Robb; and three grandchildren, Jaxson, Elijah, and Shiloh Long.

“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31