Hazel Elaine Skaggs Long

     Hazel Elaine Long (née Skaggs), 82, of Huntington Township, died unexpectedly at 4:20 pm Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at the Cleveland Clinic. Born September 6, 1938 to William Pleasant and Ruby Violet Farnham Skaggs. Graduated from Huntington High School in 1956. Graduated from Springfield City Hospital’s Nursing School in 1959 as an RN. Married Robert Max Long February 22, 1959. Max graduated from University of Pittsburgh with a Master’s in Education (M.Ed). They have two children, Jennifer Ann Long (married to Chelle Hallett) and Susan Elaine Long (married to David A Kellough). Elaine and Max have one granddaughter, Astrid Elaine Long-Kellough.  Also surviving are sisters, Maxine Belcher, of Chillicothe, Nancy (Dale) Rhodes, of Gulfport, MS and Joy (Bryan) Martin, of Chillicothe; brothers, Lou (Anne) Skaggs, David (Marilyn) Skaggs, Keith (Brenda) Skaggs, Kenneth (Virginia) Skaggs, and Wayne (Diana) Skaggs, all of Chillicothe; and many nieces and nephews.  In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by sisters, Rosemary Harrison, Barbara Wilcox, Betty Skaggs, Estill Skaggs, Kathy Skaggs and Virginia Skaggs; and a brothers, Robert Skaggs.   

    Elaine retired from the Chillicothe VA Medical Center in 1994 where she was a psychiatric nurse for many years. She was awarded VA “Nurse of the Year” that year for her work with HIV/AIDS patients. She also worked for 3 years at Adena Regional Medical Center as a psychiatric nurse until her final retirement.

    Elaine’s favorite activity was gardening. She loved having beautiful plants and flowers around the porch and yard. She always brought her favorite plants and flowers into the house during the winter months to have green, growing things near. She also enjoyed listening to Max play his banjo or guitar and sing while she was getting ready for her day. She and Max loved to watch birds visit her many bird feeders while they had their morning coffee with the cats. Elaine adored her granddaughter, Astrid. She taught Astrid to sew and they have shared the love of sewing together for many years.

    Elaine is as kind, compassionate, generous, and thoughtful a woman as ever walked. She will leave a huge hole in the lives of those who loved her, but we will carry with us her memory, the things she did for us, the way she made us feel, and the person she was for the rest of our days.

    Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, June 10, 2021 in the WARE FUNERAL HOME with Rev. Garry Hogue officiating.  Burial will follow in Grandview Cemetery.  Friends may call at the WARE FUNERAL HOME from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

    You may sign her online register at www.warefh.com

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