FLOWERS OF THE FOREST

Catherine Bell House Long
( 1932-2011 )

Wife of Laurence Maxwell Long, former President of the Clan Maxwell Society

Founding member of the Clan Maxwell Society

Catherine Bell House Long, 79, died Saturday morning, October 29, 2011, at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport after battling cancer. Catherine was born in 1932 in Cleveland, Tenn. and grew up in Cleveland, Chattanooga and Knoxville. She graduated with honors from Knoxville High School and the University of Tennessee, where she was president of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and was named a Torchbearer when she graduated in 1954 with a degree in home economics. Catherine met her husband Larry while at UT; they married in August 1954, lived in Knoxville, then moved to Anniston, AL, while Larry served in the U.S. Army, then later to Edgewood, MD.

In Kingsport, where she has lived since 1958, she was active in First Presbyterian Church, where she served as an Elder, Deacon and President of Presbyterian Women. In the community, she was active in the Junior League, in the Long Island Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and was president of the Delphian Club. She was a member of the University of Tennessee National Alumni Association Women’s Council and was a founding member and served as secretary for 20 years of the Clan Maxwell Society USA. She was a Dame Grand Cross of the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, a chivalric Christian order, and served as secretary of the Priory of St.Andrews, and on the promotion board of the national organization. Catherine was a member of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society for 30 years. An avid reader, Catherine loved her family and history, and she spent countless hours doing geneological research. Throughout her life, “Cack” was a devoted wife, daughter, mother and grandmother, and she will be remembered by everyone who knew her for her constant kindness.

She was preceded in death by her father, C. Wilson House, and her brother, C. Wilson House, Jr. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Laurence Maxwell Long, of Kingsport; her mother, Katie Bell House, of Knoxville; sons and daughters-in-law, David W. and Susan H. Long of Knoxville, Craig M. and Jane B. Long of Louisville, KY; daughter and son-in-law, Ellen Long Liston and Scott Liston, of Knoxville; grandchildren D. Wilson Long, Jr. of New York, NY; Elizabeth Long of Knoxville; McLean and Ian Long, both of Louisville, KY; sister, Mary Adair Horde, of Knoxville; brother, Lawrence House, of Knoxville; sister-in-law, Martha Ragsdale House, of Rome, GA; brother-in-law, Ed Hollander of Kingsport; aunt, Mary Epps House of Knoxville; and dozens of nieces and nephews.