Carol Ellen Long

Carol Ellen (Kohler) Long, 77, of Southern Shores, North Carolina, passed away September 10, 2025, due to complications of Parkinson’s disease. Born to Capt. Karl B. and Marie Kohler, in New Haven, Connecticut, Carol was raised in a number of colorful places, including Washington DC, Maine, England, Hawaii, and Alaska, all of which gave her a broad view of the world.

Wishing at a young age to become a nurse, she graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing degree from Seattle University. From there, Carol went on to wear many hats. She was a Navy nurse for a few years helping to care for medical evacuees from the Vietnam conflict. After that, she worked in intensive care, then as a ward nurse, occupational safety nurse, office nurse, and, for many years, in a nursing home as charge nurse for its Alzheimer’s wing. During that time, she took a break for several months to work as a hospice volunteer for Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India. Upon retiring, she had great fun working as a docent for the Whalehead Preservation Trust in Corolla, North Carolina.

Carol is survived by her husband Charles Long of the home; son Patrick Long of Washington DC; son Colby Long, dear daughter-in-law Shannon Long, and sweet granddaughter Darby Long, all of Apex, North Carolina; three sisters, who, with Carol, have been known as ‘the witches’: Barbara Hill of Naknek, Alaska; Mary Carter ( husband Michael), of Anchorage, Alaska; Sally Croall (husband Stephen) of Dumfries, Virginia; a fourth sister, Judy Kohler, of Southbury, Connecticut; two brothers: Karl S. Kohler and Paul J. Kohler, both of New London, Connecticut; and nearly innumerable nieces and nephews.

Carol was highly personable and well-liked by (mostly) everyone she met, from the scissors-wielding lady in the wheelchair who chased her around the Alzheimer’s ward, to the likes of Buzz Aldrin and Chuck Yeager when she acted as greeter in 2003 for the First Flight Centennial celebration in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, and everyone in between and among. She was straight-up honest (except when it came to chocolate), and quite forthright, especially when her husband’s baking experiments were not up to snuff.

She was, if anything, kind and caring. However, her upbringing as a naval officer’s daughter enabled her to be alarmingly ladylike (proper and tactful; pure Emily Post) when the occasion called for it, and yet her Irish genes endowed her with a frightfully wicked sense of humor, which was much appreciated in the rare times when she turned it loose. She will be missed. Her body may be absent, but her spirit lives on in all whom she has touched.

There will be a Catholic Funeral Communion Service at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church (301 W. Kitty Hawk Rd, Kitty Hawk) at 11 AM on Friday September 19, 2025.  Friends may view one hour prior to the service and join the family at a reception afterwards in the church fellowship hall.  Friends and family may also view Thursday, September 18, 2025 from 5 PM to 7 PM at Gallop Funeral Services, Nags Head Chapel (6917 S. Croatan Hwy, Nags Head). Following the funeral, Carol’s personal directives for cremation will be honored.  In lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor Carol might consider contributing to the Parkinson’s Foundation at parkinson.org or, in keeping with Carol’s character, simply hug those who are near and be kind to all. Please share expressions of sympathy with the family at www.gallopfuneralservices.com