In the early morning hours of July 8, 2016, Cynthia Iva (Long) MacDonald escaped the evil clutches of cancer and became a free spirit to watch over us all.
Cindy was born on the 24 th of April, 1957, to John Vernon Long and Lydia Ann (Sutton) Long in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Cindy, along with Judy, Linda, and Carol, were products of this loving relationship.
In pursuit of providing for his family, John moved out west to California. This is where Cindy started her journey through life. The family settled in Compton, where Cindy began her education and then graduated from High School in Long Beach, California. She didn’t let city life lure her into a fast pace lifestyle. Cindy and her niece, Kelly, (who was raised as Cindy’s sister) adopted the country way of living. They loved horses and would spend a great deal of their time helping at a boarding facility.
Then, in January of 1976, while attending a wedding of a close friend, she met this country farm boy/sailor from Montana. It took a little persuasion but she finally broke down and dated him. The country charm must have worked because just 6 months later on July 3, 1976, Cindy married Jim MacDonald.
During the first couple of years, the U.S. Navy consumed their lives. While on a tour of duty in the Western Pacific, Jim received the news that James Troy (Tuffy) had joined them in their quest to achieve total happiness.
After Jim completed his enlistment in the Navy, the decision was made to vacate the hustle and bustle of California and return to Jim’s home town of Wolf Point, Montana. It took Cindy awhile to adjust, but adjust she did. In no time at all, she had friends galore.
Cindy’s personality was magnetic. She accepted people for who they were. In the jobs, she worked at, she considered her employers family as they did her. She cherished her time at work with the Neutgen’s family, and later with Stan and Sonja Friesen. For her not to show up for work was unthinkable. A five day workweek was unquestionable, so on Saturdays, she assisted Rita Hardy at her Fabric Store.
Cindy was a gardener. In the summer after work and after driving nearly 30 miles home, you’d find her in her garden “pickin’ weeds”. The end result was her “Pickled Beets” and “Tasty Salsa”. If there was a special occasion, you were bound to be a recipient.
The Good Lord blessed us with a kind and compassionate soul.
She embraced the fact that she’d never have grandkids, so her pets Charlie, Cheyenne, Lucky, and Baby filled the void.
Cindy is survived by her husband, of 40 years, Jim MacDonald, her son “Tuffy”, sisters Judy Talbott, Linda Hubbard, and Kelly Lewis Dixon, the in/out-lawsm numerous nieces, nephews, and countless friends.
No one preceded Cindy in death, because they lived forever within her loving heart.