Billy Long's Mother Dies at Age 82

Billy Long's mother, who the candidate often referred to in campaign speeches, passed away Sunday at the age of 82, The Notebook has learned.

Patsy Sue Stevens Long died of natural causes at 6:10 a.m. Sunday at The Manor at Elfindale, a nursing home in Springfield.

A private grave side service was held at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning at the Greenlawn Cemetery.

Long's mother died just a day after he repeated his charge before a conservative crowd that if President Obama's health care reforms were in place back in March of 2008, his mother would likely have not been deemed worthy of saving.

WATCH Long make the reference during his kick-off speech HERE.

Long said that in March, his mother fell down 13 steps while trying to carry a load of laundry in her home. Injuries from that fall landed her in the Elfindale nursing home.

Long is one of five announced Republican candidates running for the 7th Congressional District U.S. House seat in 2010.