Phillip J. "Phil" Long, age 59, of Washington, Iowa, died peacefully on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a courageous battle with cancer.

Celebration of life services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 24, 2016, at St. James Catholic Church. Those attending the service are encouraged to wear orange and black in honor of Phil's dedication to Washington athletics. Calling hours will begin noon Thursday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the Phil Long "Living the Dream" Scholarship Fund. Online condolences may be sent for Phil's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com .

Phil was born January 7, 1957, in Washington, Iowa, the son of Cecil and Berdine "Becky" (Beckler) Long. Phil attended school in Washington and graduated from Washington High School in 1975. He was united in marriage to Chris Bates on June 3, 1977, in Washington, Iowa.

Phil was involved in Agri-Business all of his life. He was co-owner of Cash N Carry Chemicals in Washington, Iowa. He was actively involved in coaching for over 25 years and had over 100 victories as the Washington Demon Girls Head Basketball Coach. Phil was honored with the Coach of the Year award in 2011. As a head coach, Phil's teams won three Southeast Iowa Conference Titles and he was involved with three State Championship Basketball teams.

He was a member of the St. James Catholic Church in Washington and enjoyed golfing, camping, hunting and traveling. The past several years, Phil has enjoyed working on the farm and finishing "Papa Phil's Pond."

He is survived by his wife, Chris Long of Washington, Iowa; son, Brandon Long and wife Rhiannon; daughter, Kelli Brown and husband Lucas; daughter, Lindsey Steen and husband Jake all of Washington. Phil is also survived by 8 grandchildren: Kaylin, Adalyn and Ashlynn Long; Carson, Boden, Kipton and Grayden Brown; and Kinley Steen as well as one sister, Penney Armstrong and husband Joel of Tempe, Arizona.

Phil was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Peggy Redlinger; two nephews, Dan Redlinger and Martin Stout; and one niece, Kiley Jean Crawford.