Trevor Scott Long

It’s not often that the combination of extraordinary character, intellect, wit, honesty, vulnerability and genuine kindness is seen in one man. For those fortunate to know and love Trevor Scott Long, we found these attributes in him and so much more. This is why he had an army of support rallying behind him in the past 18-1/2 months as he so valiantly battled cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). His sheer strength and stamina allowed Trevor to endure the intensive treatments and never-ending stream of tests and procedures. At one point, given this cancer’s intensity, he shared that it felt like he was a soldier at war, but one that was left on the battlefield without a weapon of any kind. With grace and humility, he lost his battle on 11/5/2016 at merely 48 years of age. He was at Cannon Beach at the time, one of his most favorite places in the world.

Trevor was born at Letterman General Hospital on 5/18/1968 to high school sweethearts, Terry and Hanna Long, as Terry was stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco at the time. Upon discharge just months later, the family returned to the Portland area to raise their delightfully busy boy. He was joined by his sister, Jennifer, just shy of 2-1/2 years later. Trevor’s intellectual curiosity, artistic talent, love for music, and mechanical inclination were evident early on. As a 4 year old, when he wasn’t singing “Country Roads” with his vacuum nozzle microphone or designing using his Spirograph, he began taking his wagon apart and awaiting Terry’s return home in the evening for reassembly and a marathon Q & A session. Despite his father’s urging of “don’t take it apart tomorrow” as they finished, this became a daily ritual and the start of Trevor’s love for working on his vehicles.

At 5-1/2 years of age, this city clan, in true Green Acres style, moved out to Boring to live on a nearly 10 acre farm, replete with animals, a creek, and woods where many a fort were built. Of all the animals, Trevor was most fond of the family dogs, setting the stage for the future when he had his own dog, Hardy, whom he loved so deeply. At 8, Trevor made his way onto his first motorized vehicle, a neighbor’s dirt bike, and had his own by age 10. This began his lifelong love affair with speed. At 16, he bought his first car, a ’51 Mercury Coupe. This car was just the beginning of an impressive list he came to own, work on himself, and race from time to time. He truly loved to drive!

To fund his hobbies, Trevor worked as a handyman at age 14 and began working in retail at 16. He got his start in the dental world at 21 when Russ Perry hired him at Marus Dental to do technical drawings. From there, he made the move to outside sales and became an independent manufacturers’ rep with his own company, Deschutes Marketing Group. He then set his sights on working for Patterson Dental and was hired by John Soderberg in 2004. With his broad skillset, analytical mind, brilliant work ethic, and strength in building relationships, Trevor exceeded expectations in designing offices with AutoCAD and as an equipment specialist; so much so that John promoted him to be Medford’s Branch Manager. He then got the nod to take over the Portland branch (or 448 as it’s called) and was on his 6th year as Portland’s General Manager. With Trevor at the helm, 448’s team congealed, earning “Branch of the Year” honors in 2 of the past 3 years.

Trevor’s most treasured job, though, was being the father of Zane Everett Long. It was on 6/3/2000 that Trevor’s heart expanded beyond measure as he held his son immediately after birth. Zane’s smile, silliness, and curiosity as a boy served as the fuel for Trevor’s hard work elsewhere. Whether on a road trip, eating nachos, listening to music, in deep conversation, or watching cartoons (or “Stepbrothers” for the 45th time), he loved and cherished time with his boy. Watching Zane grow into the handsome, clever, witty, intuitive, and bright young man he is today was Trevor’s sheer joy, while his greatest anguish was not being as present these past months due to his cancer fight.

Lastly, Trevor was happy to have found what he called “the love of his life” several years ago and relished his close relationship and marriage to Nancy Long. As he had said many times, he relished their bond, communal love for music, travel and cars, and their mutual love for contemplative conversation. They were a heck of a team!

Trevor will forever be loved and missed, but will live on in all of our hearts. We love you, Trev.

A celebration of Trevor’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, 11/18/2016 at First United Methodist Church, 1838 SW Jefferson Street, Portland, 97201. There will be time to commune at the church immediately following the service. Those interested are then welcome to transition over to Henry’s 12th Street Tavern, 10 NW 12th Ave, Portland, 97209. It always meant a lot to Trevor to gather with friends and family for some laughter and stories.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to expanding research to find a cure for cholangiocarcinoma as such efforts to fight this rare, heinous cancer are woefully underfunded. Please make checks out to “MD Anderson Cancer Center” with “Cholangiocarcinoma Research in memory of Trevor Long” written in the memo/subject line and mail them to:

Ms. Taran Wilson

MD Anderson Cancer Center

1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 426

Houston, TX 77030