1938-2021

In loving memory

Carole Long Speight known as Snitzi to family members passed away December 3, 2021. Carole was born October 10, 1938 she was age of 83 years. She resided on Orcas Island and died in her home in Eastsound.

Carole lived on the island soon after her birth. Her parents owned a home on North Beach Road down the street from her beloved Uncle Carl Weber and her Grandmother Magdalena Weber. The Weber’s came to the islands in the early 1920’s to join other family members who were Volga Germans living in Russia who had immigrated to the US from Germany in 1905. They all arrived via Ellis Island, NY on the Frederich De Grosse Ship out of Bremen, Germany.

In the mid 1950’s, Carole moved to Gresham, Oregon and finished high school at Gresham High School. She attended Oregon State University. However, she ran off and enlisted in the Air Force when her mother Lydia Weber Long visited far too many times.

In 1959 she married Roland Speight of Tigard, Oregon. Both were enlistees in the Air Force. Carole was honorably discharged from the Air Force soon after and stayed home to raise their three children. They spent the next 20 years traveling the world via the Air Force. While stationed in Texas, Carole graduated from Midwestern State University with a degree in accounting. She resided in Houston, Texas from 1980 – 1996, and divorced in the early 80’s and once her Grandkids started school, she moved back to Eastsound. On the Island, she worked for Kenneth Lloyd’s Accounting Firm. She later became an EA, and started her own small business doing tax preparations while taken care of her widow mother.

She was a proud member of the American Legion, Post 93, as were her father, James M. Long, her Uncle Carl, and her brother James K. Long. Carole requested that her ashes be buried with her beloved Uncle Carl, who passed in 1984, at Mount Baker Cemetery. She asked that her head stone be engraved with the saying “She Did It Her Way” …

She is survived by her brother Jim Long, West Linn, Oregon, her three kids, Roland Jr, Julianna, and Nancy, her 5 grandkids, Justin, Kyle, Kristine, Michael, and Christopher, and her 3 great grandkids Noah, Nicholas and Kalen, and her beloved nephew, James Long of Lopez Island.

The family wants to extend a big thank you to Patty and Dave Resch for all they have done to assist Carole. Thank you to all of those who loved her the way we did.

Carole lived a very full, inclusive life on the island thanks in-part to this amazing community. The full-time islanders look after and take care of their own, which allowed Carole to celebrate an independent life.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at the American Legion Post, with the setting of the head stone at Mount Baker Road to follow. We look forward to sharing this day with you and hearing your best Carole stories.