Larry Long

Laurence Maxwell “Larry” Long, 93, died Thursday evening, October 9, 2025. He was preceded in death by his wife Catherine House Long, his father, Howard Long, his mother Marie Maxwell Long and his sister, Diann Long Hollander.

He is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, David W. and Susan H. Long of Knoxville, Craig M. and Jane B. Long of Louisville, KY; daughter and son-in-law, Ellen Long Liston and Scott Liston, of Knoxville; grandchildren D. Wilson Long, Jr. of Knoxville; Liz Long Adkins and husband Zach of Nashville; McLean Long and wife Marcia of Austin, Texas; and Ian Long of Louisville, KY; great-grandson Lukas Adkins of Nashville; sister-in-law, Martha Ragsdale House, of Rome, GA; brother-in-law, Ed Hollander of Kingsport; and dozens of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Larry was born in 1932 and grew up in Kingsport. He graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School and the University of Tennessee, where he received a degree in chemical engineering. At UT, he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and served as president of the Interfraternity Council. Larry met his wife Catherine while at UT; they married in August 1954, lived in Knoxville, then moved to Anniston, AL, while Larry served in the U.S. Army, retired as a captain in the Chemical Corp, and then later to Edgewood, MD.

In Kingsport, Larry worked for Eastman Kodak as a metallurgist for more than 35 years, retiring in 1994. While working at Eastman, he was active in many technical societies at both the local and national level. Larry was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Kingsport his entire life, where he served as an Elder and as a Deacon; he taught Sunday School classes for more than 40 years, was a longtime member of the Chancel Choir and was part of a group which established a multi-church organization administering aid to the poor and needy in his local community.

Larry had a long and enduring interest and was dedicated to his Scottish heritage and was active in a variety of organizations tied to his ancestry. He was a founding member and served as president for 25 years of the Clan Maxwell Society USA and served as a member of the advisory board of the Scottish and Irish Studies program at East Tennessee State University. He also taught classes and presented numerous programs for that program and its parent organization, the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services. Larry served the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in a number of areas for more than 25 years, including creating the acclaimed Torchlight Ceremony. He was honored for his contributions to these Scottish Games in 1995 when he was awarded the Agnes McRae Morton Award for distinguished service.

He was a Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (SMOTJ), an international chivalric Christian order, and served in many leadership roles for of the Priory of St. Andrews, culminating when he served as Prior. A member of SMOTJ for 43 years, his work elevated him to the dignity of Grand Croix, the highest in the Order, and his charitable efforts and work saw him inducted into the SMOTJ’S Order of Merit in the rank of Grand Commander. Larry was a member of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society for 30 years and enjoyed dancing at events throughout the country with his wife Catherine. Larry was a beloved and devoted husband, father and grandfather, and he will be remembered by everyone who knew him for his love of family, his gift of storytelling, his abiding faith, and his knowledge and caring.

The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 18 at First Presbyterian Church in Kingsport, and a service will follow at 1 p.m., with the Rev. Russ Pearson and the Rev. Ken Chivers officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials go to First Presbyterian Church in Kingsport or to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games (gmhg.org).