Linda Kay (Usrey) Long

Linda Kay (Usrey) Long was born June 12, 1944, in Portales, to the home of Hazel “Othelle” (Davis) and Doyle Richard Usrey. She passed peacefully at Coronado Care Center in Portales, NM, on the morning of March 25, 2024.

The family will hold a celebration of life for Linda at 10:00 AM, Thurs., Mar. 28, 2024 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Vito Monteblanco officiating. Burial will be in the Portales Cemetery alongside other family members. Her nephews will be honorary pallbearers.

She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt. She is survived by two sons, Scott and his companion, Mikki, Curtis and his wife, Gaylinda, a brother, Rick Usrey, sister, Sandi Bergman, her grandchildren, Megan and her husband James Manasco, Sarah Long and her husband Joshua Longley, Kasye Long and her husband Ross Steadman, Drake Long and his fiancé Cali Walker, Emma Long, her great-grandchildren, Tanner Manasco and Karyssa Manasco, nephews Rick Bergman, Ty Bergman, Kevin Usrey, Mark Usrey and Steve Usrey.

Linda was a 1962 graduate of Portales High School. While in school, she played the French Horn in the school band. Following high school, she attended Eastern New Mexico University where she earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in English. Her teaching career included Marshall Junior High and Clovis High School, as well as Clovis Community College, Elida and ENMU. For a time, she also taught Adult Education classes for the Chamber of Commerce to enable people to gain their GED’s. She also worked at the Re-Integration Center in Portales for a short time.

Linda was an accomplished writer. Through the years, she was published in many publications including New Mexico Magazine. She wrote numerous stories highlighting individual Roosevelt County citizens when she worked for the Portales News Tribune. While there, she was the recipient of several awards from the New Mexico Press Association for her feature stories.

Linda was a talented seamstress and enjoyed crocheting. Her work was extraordinary, and she particularly loved making complete sets of crocheted Christmas ornaments and many other items for her sons and other family members. The ornaments are spectacularly beautiful and will be enjoyed for years to come by her family.

Her biggest joy was spending time with grandchildren. All the grandchildren including her nephews Rick and Ty loved to spend time with their “Nonnie”. She had endless love for each of them and she was so proud to be their “Non”. Her “bestie” for many years was Pam Shearer, and they shared many good times hanging out together and going camping at the lake.

In the last years before she became too ill, Linda was very interested in the mysteries of Heaven and the afterlife of a Christ follower. She concluded that the glory of it would be too difficult to begin to comprehend. She expressed a strong desire to see Christ, and to be reunited with her mother and other family members who preceded her in death.

Because she cherished her fur babies through the years, namely GiGi, Ginger and Pepper, her family urges those who wish to honor Linda’s memory to make a donation to Cindy’s Hope For Precious Paws in Clovis, NM.

Linda will be greatly missed by both her family and friends.

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