James Long biography: 13 things about De Soto, Missouri man

James Bernard “Jim” Long was a native of St. Louis City, Missouri, United States. During World War II, he quit school and joined the military.

Raised in St. Louis County, Long learned farming from his grandparents and later drove a truck route delivering candy, tobacco and other products door-to-door. He went on to own a café, a service station and a liquor store for many years, which was around a mile from his house in De Soto, Jefferson County, Missouri.

On July 8, 1996, Carman L. Deck, Jr. killed Long and Long’s wife Zelma L. Long. On May 3, 2022, Deck died by injection at the state prison in Bonne Terre in St. Francois County, Missouri.

Both Jim and Zelma loved competitive fishing. They have four daughters namely Linda Long, Angela Long, Christine Long and Laura Long and three sons namely James Paul Long, William Long and Martin Long.

Jim enjoyed bowling, fishing, bird hunting, gardening and raising honeybees and he was a top bowler in Jefferson County. Here are 13 more things about him:

1. He was born in St. Louis to Gilbert James Long and Dolores Herminina Daues Long.
2. After marrying Zelma on June 11, 1947, he built a two-bedroom home for them on Long Road in De Soto. As they raised seven children, he built additions to the home.
3. On October 3, 1947, Zelma gave birth to their son James Paul.
4. On August 4, 1957, his grandmother Mary E. McManus Daues died in St. Louis County, Missouri at age 80.
5. On August 30, 1958, his grandfather Christian H. Daues died in Webster Groves, St. Louis County at age 82.
6. On March 10, 1962, his grandfather James J. Long died at age 86.
7. On March 5, 1968, his grandmother Angela Anna Padberg Long died at age 91.
8. On May 20, 1972, his son James Paul was killed in a car accident.
9. On July 1, 1988, his mother died in De Soto at age 84.
10. In 1991, his father died at age 88.
11. On August 17, 1995, he turned 69.
12. On June 11, 1996, he and Zelma celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary. After the celebration, their children started planning a big surprise for their 50th wedding anniversary.
13. On July 8, 1996, Deck and Deck’s sister Tonia Cummings knocked on their door at their De Soto house, asking for directions to Laguna Palma reservoir in De Soto. Zelma invited the siblings inside and he drew them a map. Deck pulled a gun and demanded money. Zelma retrieved her bingo money worth around $200 from her purse in the kitchen and he offered to write Deck a check. The couple also gave Deck a tin canister with quarters. Still, Deck shot him and then Zelma in the back of their heads and robbed them of $400.