Timothy Long

Timothy James "T.J." Long was known to family and friends for his athletic spirit, love of the outdoors, and devotion to his children. At 35, T.J. carried a lifelong connection to wrestling—competing at high levels and earning a fierce local reputation that friends memorialized with the nickname "Mustang Monster." He worked in construction and spent free hours camping, fishing, and gathered around bonfires, pursuits that reflected a straightforward love of open air and close company.

T.J. was a father to Kylee Long, Trent Long, and Bentley Greco. Those relationships were central to his life and are repeatedly identified in public notices and reporting about him. He was also part of a large extended family that includes his parents, Patty and Jerry Long Sr., and several siblings; community references show he belonged to a closely connected household in the Salisbury area.

Neighbors and local reporting recall T.J. as someone whose physical skills and competitive nature on the mat were matched by a comfort with outdoor work and recreation. He made his living in construction, a trade in which many who knew him say he applied the same determination and steady work ethic he showed in sport. Outside work he preferred simple pleasures—time by the water, a campfire with friends, and the kinds of gatherings that form the quieter fabric of community life.

T.J. died on October 17, 2021, in Salisbury, North Carolina. Public accounts about his death focus on the facts reported by local authorities; because this page is intended as a remembrance, the emphasis here remains on the person he was: a father, a competitor who loved wrestling, an outdoorsman, and a member of a loving family. While public records and news accounts provide some details, they cannot fully capture the private stories and small acts—shared meals, weekend outings, and the ordinary moments of care—that defined his relationships.

Those who wish to honor T.J.'s memory are invited to remember him through the things he enjoyed: time outside, the steady work of building, and the bonds of family. His passing left a deep ache for those closest to him and a reminder that every life holds a network of relationships and daily joys that matter beyond public record.