Juanita Grace Long, the daughter of Herbert Fullerton and Etta Mareka (LaHue) Hunter, was born on January 4, 1929, in rural Rock Port, Missouri. She attended West Bend country school for her elementary grades and Rock Port High School, graduating in 1947. Juanita attended Tarkio College, Tarkio, Missouri, for two summer semesters. She began teaching 1st-8th in the Highland country school for one year and at Nishnabotna country school for two years.

On August 15, 1947, Juanita was united in marriage to Norman 0. “Stub” Long at the First Lutheran Church in Rock Port. They became the parents of three children, Christina Sue, John Michael, and Melinda Kay. Stub passed away in June of 1999.

Juanita and Stub operated the Rock Port Fountain for one year. Juanita was a homemaker, raising and caring for her children in the different communities in Iowa in which they made their home, while Stub was a schoolteacher and then a school superintendent. Juanita was a member of First Lutheran Church, Rock Port, and Order of Eastern Star Chapter, DU, and a member of PEO. She was also an active member of some of the women’s church groups over the years.

Juanita had several hobbies over the years: sewing, quilting, gardening, and raising flowers, especially her beautiful lilies that she entered in the county fair.

She also enjoyed the family summer vacations either traveling to a particular resort in Minnesota or spending time going through the western states. Juanita always knew special places to visit while traveling west. While their son was stationed in Germany with the Army, Juanita and Stub were excited to tour Germany. In recent years Juanita traveled to Branson with her daughter Christina and sister Julia. She particularly liked listening to John Sager, a singer with whom they had become acquainted. Juanita and Stub also enjoyed raising English Springer Spaniels, and in later years raised llamas on their farm south of Rock Port.

Juanita passed away Monday, December 30, 2024, at Community Hospital-Fairfax, Fairfax, Missouri, at the age of 95.

Besides her parents and husband Stub Long, Juanita was preceded in death by her daughter, Melinda Kay Macke; brother, Lewis and his wife Betty Hunter, sister, Julia and her husband Larry Bennington; and nephew, Randy Hunter. Survivors include children, Christina Sue (Paul) Miller, Carrollton, Missouri, John Michael (Marion) Long, Chula, Georgia, and son-in-law, John Henry Macke, Streetman, Texas; ten grandchildren: Christina’s children, Rebecca, Amy, and Kacey; John’s children, Angela, Jason, Tiffany, and Marikka; and Melinda’s children, Heather, Ian, and John Henry, IV; 18 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service was held Saturday, January 4, 2025, at Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port, conducted by Pastor Devon Sons. Interment was at Hunter Cemetery, Rock Port. Memorials may be directed to Hunter Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port. Online condolences may be made at www.minterfuneralchapels.com.