Grace Marie Long, 91, of Keokuk, died Tuesday November 25, 2014 at the Montrose Health Center, Montrose, IA. Grace was born on November 20, 1923 in Searsboro, IA, the daughter of Orville and Marie Martin Gilbert. On May 13, 1944 Grace was united in marriage to John "Jack" Carl Long in Tucson, AZ. He preceded her in death on August 31, 2012. She graduated with honors from the St. Peter's High School in Keokuk. Grace was a longtime member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church, then the All Saints Catholic Church. She was the first female lector at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Keokuk. Grace served as the President and Treasurer for the Ladies Aid of the church and also served as Secretary for the Parish Council. She was involved in many fundraisers for St. Mary's and All Saints Catholic Church. She had been a Religion teacher for 7-9th grade students for over twelve years. Grace had worked as a teacher's aide at St. Mary's for two years and occasionally worked at St. Vincent's. She also had worked as a housekeeper for the Convent and Father Goetsch. She was very involved in the Catholic Schools. She had served as President and Secretary of the PTA. and was instrumental in starting the Mardi Gras Carnival at St. Vincent's. Grace was a co-founder of Keokuk Birthright and had served on the Board and was Director and Co-Director for several years. She loved working with children and had been a leader for Brownies and Girl Scouts and a den mother for Boy Scout Cubs. She was a 35 year donor to the Tutwiler Community Education Center in Tutwiler, MS There was nothing more treasured in her life than her family. Grace dedicated her life to her family and to making their house a wonderful home. She is survived by her seven children, Robert B. Long and Rita E. Long both of Davenport, IA, Mary Claire Bersbach and her husband Bill of Galena, IL, Joan F. Gilkerson and her husband Paul of Kahoka, MO, and James V. Long, Lawrence G. Long and his wife Sandy and Jeanne T. Buckner and her husband William all of Keokuk, ten Grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, two sisters, Francis Hedrick and Joan Nix and several nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Marty and James Gilbert and one daughter-in-law, Mercedes Long. A Memorial Mass was held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 5th, 2014 at the All Saints Catholic Church in Keokuk with Rev. Robert Lathrop and Reverend Marty Goetz officiating. Burial was in the Keokuk National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Keokuk Catholic Education or the Tutwiler Community Education Center.