Dr. Derle Ray Long

Derle Ray Long joined our Heavenly Father on October 10th, 2022 at his home in Monroe, Louisiana. He was born on August 15, 1956, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Derle Gene Long and Naomi Kelley. Services for Derle Ray Long will be held on Saturday, October 15th at 3:00PM with visitation prior 1:30-3PM at Seale Funeral Home in Denham Springs, Louisiana. Graveside services will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park, located behind Seale Funeral Home. Derle was passionate about music in higher education and served at the University of Louisiana at Monroe as Director of the School of Visual and Performing Arts. He enjoyed 22 years as a Warhawk at ULM and spent a majority of his time recruiting, mentoring students and making sure everyone was fed something cajun! He is a graduate of Istrouma High School class of 1974, Louisiana State University class of 1978, received his Masters in Music Education from LSU in 1983 and Doctorate from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2008. Derle spent many years teaching at W.T. White High School in Dallas, Texas, Middle Tennessee State University, Hattiesburg High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Lafayette High School in Lafayette, Louisiana. He leaves behind a legacy with hundreds of music students of all ages who were blessed to have his mentorship. Derle enjoyed partnering with Miss Louisiana Organization, American Dance & Drill Team, and the Dallas Cotton Bowl where he served as judge, mentor and coordinator at large. His hobbies included cooking and entertaining with a flare for jokes and storytelling. Related or not, most referred to him as family. Derle was the youngest of three children and is survived by his brother Kerry Gene Long and wife Barbara and sister Kathy Long Ross. He was a proud uncle to Kevin Gene Long and wife Denise, Hunter, Hagen and Hailey Long, and Liam Long; Kellie Long Bouquet and husband Jason, Caroline and Collin Bouquet; Keith Long; Kandi Gallaty and husband Robby, Rig and Ryder Gallaty; Rebecca Aucoin and husband Robby, Baylen, Anabelle, Dominic and Katherine Aucoin; and Brian Ross. He is also survived by his stepmother Lorena Jones Long and her four children; Denise Recatto and husband Mike, Randy Bayhi and wife Jamie,Terri Bayhi and Karl Bayhi. He is preceded in death by his father Derle Gene, mother Naomi, and brother in law Abe Ross. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the ULM Foundation, 700 University Ave, Monroe, LA 71209 to Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA). Contributions may be made online with a credit card or checking account draft at by selecting My Passion in the designation drop-down menu and entering VAPA. The family would like to thank the University of Louisiana at Monroe and all of Dr. Derle Long’s students and colleagues for your memories shared. “May the road rise to meet you.”