First time I met Johnnie. I was pre-warned that Johnnie  had a personality out of this world. Johnnie would say and do anything for a laugh. Good hearted as there ever was.   Billy and I will miss ole
Johnnie. He could make you laugh and give you the shirt off his back.  Rest in peace cowboy. You are a legend at Delta Downs.
The REAL TRUE GRIT !!!!!

Wow, Johnnie long. Haven't seen him since high school. I had heard that he went to Louisiana. Figured like most race trackers that it was just for a while. Then, I heard that he found a wife down there.

Sounds like he didn't much. He was always good-hearted, good for a laugh , somebody could never forget.

Sounds like he was much like his father who was handy with a lot of things. As well as good with the laugh. His brother C with all the descriptions that I see Johnny's friends make, they could be describing C as well. Both were handy Horseman, and do most anything with a horse, and do it well.

School field trips were fun for sure when Johnnie was on the same bus. Poor bus driver, haha.

No we didn't keep in touch , but I did hear updates from his brother C from time to time. And it was a bit of a big shock to see it on Facebook my old Hometown neighbor, Farm Boy, Horseman, race tracker that I hadn't seen in Forever had passed away. From all your descriptions it sounds  like it was a life well-lived, and a life of Honor. I don't know how he passed but I hope he was comfortable.

Hey Johnnie, since you made it up there before I did and apparently it sounds like you appreciated a good Pony  I got a couple of good ones up there ,some of the best. Help C look out for them until I get up there with you guys okay? Fond memories. My heart and prayers go out to Johnny's Louisiana family, his son, may God wrap his arms around him as he raises Jonny's grandchildren.

Johnnie Long and this picture of him and whoever captured it should go down in the Hall Of Fame💙🙏
Love

One winter day me and Johnny went to the backfield near a pond will the cows stayed until it was time to come into the barn and milk the cows it was a good snowy day we had a toboggan it went up the hill oh yes I am Johnny's on together went down and hit a spot went flying in the air at was really fun but we tried and tried could never find that spot ever again don't matter we still had a load of fun laughing and joking then we went to the hay barn we had a rope where we used to swing we have some City kids they asked us is that string to ring the bell for the cows come in we had to tell him know we're just having fun I don't think they quite understood don't matter we had some fun then we had her horse saddle in a rope what's the scoop shovel one rode the horse and pulled the other sometimes we would fall off course it's a nice snowy night close to Beaver going too fast hope it kept falling off and getting back on that was fun one way then in the milking Barn milking the cows we had people visiting we would tell him been down we have something to tell them so we took squirt them in the eye with the milk sometimes they would love some wasn't happy on it sometimes we would play the game tie each other up see how long it it would take us to untie but Johnny was little faster untying his self and I was I always thought that was pretty cool our dad would take us to horse shows they had a class called back-to-back their back we'd have to walk Trot and Canter horse with no saddle on of course Johnny was little at that time didn't take much to turn him around possibly run the class had a good time but was sore to next day then Johnny had this red man chewing tobacco he said Carol try some of course I did he forgot to tell me to spit the juice out I done swallowed some got pretty sick I think I turn different colors but Johnny thought it was really funny it was I shouldn't have done it by the way I'm his sister Carol 6 years older in Johnny God bless his family and friends 

Johnnie could always brighten your day with some story that was wild and most definitely true. He was a big help to us the last couple years and this breaks our hearts.  Hopefully he and Murray are talking trash somewhere. 💙

I am sorry for your loss. I meet Johnnie a few years ago. He was a kind man and a friend, he will be missed. He is in Heaven riding all the pretty horses.

Johnnie was a real cowboy.  A real horseman.  
I always loved when he ponied me before a race.  
He ponied me my very first race I rode.   I know so many people have so many great memories of him.  He will be missed.  It’s not goodbye old friend- it’s I’ll see ya later 

The most real fried anyone could have. Always knew where you were with Johnny . One of my very  best true friends.  He will always be in my prayers. 

So sorry to hear of this news today. Johnnie always had a big smile and loved to make you laugh. He loved to holler and cut up when we ponied together.  I remembered that App horse he rode forever. They were both tough as nails. Rip Johnnie Long. 

The fist time I met Johnnie I was driving thru the barn area and he was shoeing some horses tied to a trailer he'd been there awhile he was huffin and puffin and wet with sweat and he stopped me and said he needed to use my phone it sounded serious so I gave it to him and he called the  complaint line at casino there at Delta to say hello!! My first impression we were friends after that God bless ya Johnnie

Not sure how to begin.  20+ yrs ponying at Delta Downs with him OMG the stories not sure how sometimes we didn’t pee our pants laughing so hard.  Yes Hustlin Johnny would give you the shirt off his back, he will be greatly missed.  My heart goes out to his family .  RIP buddy 

Johnny was tough as nails and yet found humor in everything. Talked with him in the hospital last year and he had me and Chad laughing. He always put others first and himself last. He had nicknames for everyone lol mine was Queeny. RIP Huslin Johnny.

Was at Delta with my father who was a Blacksmith the winter Hustling Johnny showed up at Delta he was a freind of my father and myself RIP ole freind.

Hello , my name is Brandy Exline I am the site supervisor for Securitas Security at Delta Downs . My name may be Brandy ,but Johnnie always called me , " Grandmaw " , he was a true character.  He will be truly missed by all who knew him and especially by all of us at Delta . He would always put a smile on your face.  The family and friends are all in my thoughts and prayers . 

Omg I'm in total shock right now and at last for words honestly...but with a heavy heart an prayers goes to Mr.Johnnie may he rest in peace and my condolences goes out to the family and friends close to him or as myself knowing him growing up around the track when my step dad used to work there from time to time....prayers going out to y'all

Didn't really know Mr. Johnnie that well, He was a very polite gentalman when he came into  M&K Pantry to buy his items. RIP my friends and customer.

I loved Johnny Long. He was a true friend to my husband Jude and I.  I have been called lots of names in my life, but Johnny always called me “Red”. No one else ever called me that. I will miss him terribly until I see him again in heaven. When I hear “HEY RED!!!!” I will KNOW it’s him!!! See ya on the other side, Johnny Long!!!❤️💔🙏

OBITUARY

Johnnie Mathias Long

October 17, 1958 – May 16, 2020

Hixson Funeral Home-Vinton

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