Melissa Pauline Gardner passed away in Midwest City, Oklahoma on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at the age of 65 years.

Melissa is the daughter of David Long Jr. & Phyllis (Smith) Long, born on April 16, 1961, in Ponca City, Oklahoma. She was brought up in Oklahoma in various places where her father ministered and pastored, and graduated Central Innovative High School in Oklahoma City in 1979. She attended Northern Oklahoma Junior College in Tonkawa for one year, then worked fifteen years for Southwestern Bell as a service representative from 1980 till 1995. She enjoyed shopping and loved all sports, especially sporting events involving her grandchildren. She loved her family, and she lived for her grandchildren and their activities. She was a member of the Billy Hooten United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Phyllis (Smith) Long; her paternal grandparents, David Sr. & Eloise Long; her maternal grandparents, John Franklin Smith & Lena (Big Goose) Smith; her sister, Brenda Smith; her aunts, Betsy Long and Barbara Long.

She is survived by her father and stepmother, David Jr & Cogee Long, of Okmulgee; two sons, Billy Gardner (Micah) and Caleb Long, all of Oklahoma City; one daughter, Phyllis Gaul (Harold) of Oklahoma City; eight grandchildren:

Aiden Lawson, Ella Gardner, Elijah Gardner, Noah Gaul, Carson Gaul, Neveah Long, Kyrie Long, and Xander Long; many brothers and sisters including David Long III of Muskogee, Lisa Deere of Broken Arrow, Jasmine Tillman of Bethel Acres, and Idalene Taylor of Holdenville; nieces and nephews, other family members, and many friends.

Funeral services will be Thursday, July 30, 2026, 1:30pm at Salt Creek Methodist Church with interment at Harjo Family Cemetery, both located north of Holdenville. Rev. Paul Fixico and Rev. Jimmy White are the officiating ministers. Pallbearers are Glenn Zink, Eli Gardner, Carson Gaul, Aiden Lawson, Noah Gaul, and Harold Gaul. Honorary pallbearers are Switzer McGeeley, Timmy McGeeley, Kyrie Long, and Xander Long.

Viewing at the funeral home will be Wednesday, July 29, 10:00am till Wake Service begins at 7:00pm.

Salt Creek Methodist Church is located at 7297 East 125 Road, Holdenville, Oklahoma 74848

(approximately 7 Miles north of Holdenville on Highway 48 to E 125 Rd  go east on 125 Rd for 2 miles   Church on the right (south) side of road)