Barbara Long

Monday, October 10, 2022
Barbara Long

SIKESTON — Barbara Cummins Keefer Long, age 88, passed away on Oct. 9, 2022, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

She was born on July 1, 1934, in Morley, Missouri, to the late Wayne and Bernice Cummins.

In 1953 in Sikeston, Missouri, she married Billy Joe Keefer the father of her sons. On April 17, 1981, at Hillman Ferry at Land Between The Lakes, Kentucky, she married Kenneth Long who preceded her in death on Dec. 17, 2020.

Barbara graduated from Sikeston High School in 1952; she was treasurer of her class and she enjoyed planning all their reunions. She was an active member at Fellowship Baptist Church in Sikeston for the past 27 years; prior to that, she was a member at Murray Lane Baptist Church for 35 years. Barbara was active in the church choirs for all of those years. She served on the kitchen committee and the decorating committee. She loved her Sunday school class and her church family. She enjoyed serving in the kitchen during bible school.

She retired from Missouri Delta Medical Center in 1986 after 22 years of service as the secretary for the director of nurses; after her retirement, she and her husband owned and operated Ken and Barb’s Clocks and Crafts in Sikeston; she later worked at Tri-County Quick Cash and volunteered at Missouri Delta Medical Center for several years.

She is survived by two sons, Billy (Kim) Keefer of Kennett, Missouri, and Brent (Tricia) Keefer of Sikeston; one sister and best friend, Elizabeth McDonough of Sikeston; four grandsons, Scott Keefer, Branston Keefer and Luke Keefer, and Christian Keefer; one granddaughter, Abbi Keefer Kolons; eight great-grandchildren; and one nephew, Christopher Bradley.

In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by one nephew, Brian Bradley.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, from 10 a.m. until time of funeral service at noon at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston with Brother Joe McCullough, pastor of Murray Lane Baptist Church in Sikeston, and Brother Bob Houchins, pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Sikeston, officiating.

Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston.

Pallbearers will be: Mark Shell, Danny Hampton, Barry Love, Dwight Mills, Gary Silverthorn, Jay Cox and Chris Springs.

Honorary pallbearers will be: Steve Gillespie, Corey Houston, Keith Bateman, Chad Ledbetter and Toby Ledbetter.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Long family may be shared at www.nunneleefuneral.com.


Memorial donations may be sent to: Fellowship Baptist Church, 1801 Ables Road, Sikeston, MO 63801.