
Elva Jean Long Weir passed away peacefully at her home December 27th, 2024, with her loving husband and family by her side. She was 84 years old, born December 22, 1940, in Susanville, Ca. at the old “Potter’s Maternity Home” which was located at 1603 Main St, (site of Rite Aid building).
Her family lived in Burney, CA when she was born, then moved to Tulelake, CA where she spent most of her elementary school years. In 1950 her family moved to Napa, CA where she attended Ridgeview Junior High and graduated from Napa High School in 1958. Jean married George Holmes that same year and they had 5 children together. In 1975, she married Jay Magill and had her 6th child.
Jean was working for Mervyn’s in Napa when she moved to Marysville, CA in 1979. She worked at Mervyn’s and Gottschalks department stores until 1990, when she moved to Susanville, CA to start her career with the Department of Corrections where she was the canteen manager. That’s where Jean met her husband Harry Weir and soon after they moved out to Milford, CA and created a ranch where everyone was always welcome.
This is where her true “cowgirl” style came out in her. Riding her beloved horse Millie, alongside her husband Harry, they would go out for long overnight rides with dear friends, sleeping under the stars. She was an avid rock collector and loved gardening in her yard with her barn cats always hanging around. On occasion you could find her out hunting those pesky goat-heads out in the horse pastures. Jean was also a wonderful seamstress, making 4 wedding dresses, and several bridesmaid and flower girl dresses over the years. She belonged to the Backcountry Horseman of CA for over 17 yrs, Historical Society (30 yrs), Milford Community Assoc (25 yrs), and Native Daughter’s (10 yrs), always holding officer positions in all activities. For 25 years she loved working every fall with her Wemples Pumpkin Patch family.
Jean’s biggest achievement was raising 6 children on her own in a loving, Christian home. She belonged to the Standish Bible Church where she was a deaconess for several years. Above all, she put the Lord and her family first. Her life was a testament to faith, dedication and love. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents George Best Easton Long and Elva May Donaldson Long, and her brother George Ernest (Ernie) Long.
Jean is survived by her husband of 32 years, Harry Weir; children, Jeff Holmes (Cristina) of Napa, Kathryn Tanner (Todd) of Loma Rica, Alan Holmes (Debbie) of Susanville, Kenneth Holmes (Dori) of Janesville, Karen Eastman (Michael) of Blue Ridge, GA, and Dawn Jardine (Eric) of Gilroy. Sisters, Marlene Red-horse (Pete) of Lincoln and Myrna Long of Lodi. Stepchildren, Jon Weir (Lori) of Lodi, Bobby Weir of Secret Valley, and Gena Bingham (Eric) of Pleasant Hill. She was “Granny” to twenty-two grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren (and counting) and a wonderful auntie to many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Honey Lake Valley Assembly of God church at 12pm on Saturday, April 12th, 2025. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Standish Bible Church or Honey Lake Hospice.