Daniel Steven Long

born on February 14, 1950, in Los Angeles, California, to Eugene and Conchita Long. Dan was

the third of five children. He spent his youth in the Los Angeles area going to the beach to body

surf with his dad and carried a love of the ocean throughout his life.

He graduated from Montebello High School in the class of 1968. Dan married Diane

Simpson on August 20, 1977. The couple made their first home in Huntington Beach,

California, while Dan worked for Valley Industrial. They then moved to Valencia, Burbank,

Riverside, and Carson City, before finally making a home in Chico, California, with their four

sons. Dan worked for Mission Linen for 19 years before retiring in 2015.

Dan was a loving husband and father. He adored his wife, Diane, and their 43-year

marriage was one that their children hope to emulate. He coached several of his boys’ baseball

teams and instilled strong family values and an old-school style of respect and chivalry in his

children.

In his years with Mission Linen, Dan was a successful salesman, using his charm and

humor to persuade clients and win accounts. He will be remembered fondly by coworkers who

appreciated his approachability and kindness. He established regular “safety meetings” that

conveniently took place after a long day’s work and were held at Riley’s.

Dan enjoyed golfing throughout his life and some of his best times were spent on Bidwell

Golf Course with his friends and hosting his annual Wide-Eyed Classic tournament every July.

He also liked to walk in Bidwell Park with a group of close friends.

He was a people person and he loved when his house was filled with family and friends.

He would often be at the center of the party telling a story or a joke and have everyone there

crying with laughter. His grandchildren remember him as a huge softy who would buy ice cream

and popsicles to slip them for breakfast or lunch when parents weren’t looking.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents, Gene and Conchita; his sister, Kelly; and his

brother, Jeff.

Dan will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Diane; his brother, Gene; his sister, Kathy;

his children, Christopher and his wife, Melanie, John and his wife, Holly, Brian and his wife,

Melissa, and Patrick and his wife, Tara; his grandchildren, Abigail, Andrew, Matthew, Brenna,

Jacob, Colin, Declan, Brayden, Jackson, Ailey, and Elsie; his many nieces and nephews; and

countless friends, coworkers, and neighbors.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s

Research Hospital in memory of Daniel Long at stjude.org