Vera Long

Vera "Pat" Wiltfong Brown Lair Long

Passed away September 16, 2017 in Bakersfield, California on her 94th birthday.


Date of Birth: September 16, 1923
Place of Birth: Oak Valley, KS

Born to James and Josephine (Krider) Wiltfong.

Pat attended Viola Rural School, Oak Valley, Kansas and later graduated High School in 1967 in Tranquility, California.

In her earlier years she worked at Sinclair offices and
Electra Manufacturing Plant in Independence, KS. In later years while living in California she worked for the Mendota Police Department and retired from Bayly MFG in Sanger in 1985.

She married Raymond Brown in 1942. To this marriage one child, Barbara Joan Brown was born.

Following their divorce, she married Cecil Lair in 1950 and they lived in San Diego, California, Independence and Buffalo, Kansas. After Cecil's death in 1964, she moved back to California where she met and married Gene Long in 1972 and they made their home in Kerman, California. Gene died in 2005 and she relocated to Bakersfield, CA to live with her daughter.

Pat was preceded in death by her husbands, her parents James and Josephine Wiltfong, her brothers Bill Wiltfong and Bob Wiltfong, her sisters, Janie Stark, Mary Smith, Emma Stark, Peggy Newton, Ella Tilton, Addie Weston, Loretta Stickel-Tomberlin, Marie Marquardt, Opal Weyand, Violet Wiltfong and stepdaughter Lorna Long-Ellis.

Pat's survivors include her daughter Barbara J. Ervin, her grandson Jeff Ervin, his wife Mary and four grandchildren, Thomas, Marlo, Hannah and Austin Ervin of Bakersfield, California, two stepdaughters Jackie Strusis, Helen Elms, six step-grandchildren Laura, Coretta, Louie Jr., Jerold, Marlana, LaJeana, twelve step-great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Pat enjoyed spending time with her family, crocheting, quilting, board games and was an avid reader of adventure and historical romance novels, watching cowboy films especially the Longmire series. Not a day went by that she did not read.

Funeral arrangements with Green Lawn Funeral Home of Bakersfield, California and Webb and Rodrick Funeral Home, Independence, Kansas with graveside services being held at Oak Hill Cemetery, Elk City, Kansas on Thursday, September 28th at 10:00 am. with Reverend Keith Springer officiating.

Service

Cemetery