McGuire Sisters’ mother, Lillie, dies

Friday, March 29, 2002 | 8:51 a.m.

The Rev. Lillie McGuire-Long, the mother of the McGuire Sisters singing group and a frequent visitor to Las Vegas since the 1960s, died March 21 in a Miamisburg, Ohio, convalescent home. She was 92.

"My mother saw more of Las Vegas than I did, coming here every year and spending six weeks at a time," said Phyllis McGuire, who has lived in Las Vegas since 1964.

"She visited everywhere from Red Rock Canyon to the (Hoover) Dam and got a kick out of meeting people at the parties I threw, like Joe DiMaggio, Liberace and Elvis (Presley). But, because of her religious upbringing, she never once put a coin in a slot machine."

McGuire-Long, who co-founded the North Heincke Road First Church of God in Miamisburg in 1938 and long served as its pastor, was known for her charity work, including feeding the needy and helping the community's youth.

McGuire-Long's daughters -- Phyllis, Christine and Dorothy McGuire -- began singing as teenagers in her church's choir and later, as the McGuire Sisters, recorded the chart-topping hits "Sincerely," "Sugartime" and other pop tunes. They have long been Las Vegas favorites and still occasionally get together to perform.

Born Lillie Mae Fultz on July 27, 1909, in Rowan County, Ky., McGuire-Long was one of seven children of farmer George Fultz and the former Anna Kidd. In the 1930s, Lillie graduated from Anderson (Ind.) College of Theology with a divinity degree.

Lillie and her first husband, Asa McGuire, moved to Miamisburg in the late 1930s, where she later served two terms as a councilwoman. Asa died in 1975. In 1994 Lillie married Jim Long, who died in 1999. McGuire-Long was pastor emeritus of her church at the time of her death.

In addition to Phyllis McGuire, McGuire-Long is survived by her daughters Christine of Las Vegas and Dorothy of Paradise Valley, Ariz.; a brother Alex Fultz of Ohio; six grandchildren; and 12 great grandchildren.

The family said contributions in McGuire-Long's memory can be made to the North Heincke Road First Church of God, 446 North Heincke Road, Miamisburg, Ohio.