Derek J. Long

Oct. 30, 1944 – May 31, 2018

Posted

TORRINGTON – Derek James Long, 73, passed away Thursday, May 31, 2018, with his family by his side at University Hospital in Aurora, Colorado.

Memorial services will be 3 p.m. Friday, June 8, at the Colyer Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Matt Gordon officiating. Cremation has taken place and burial will be at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and friends may send their condolences to the family at www.colyerfuneralhome.com

Derek was born Oct. 30, 1944, in Devizes, England, the son of Delbert and Grace (McMillan) Long. When Derek was a toddler, he and his parents moved to Kettering, Ohio, which was his father’s hometown. The family came over on the Queen Mary. 

He grew up and graduated high school in Kettering. After meeting and later marrying Linda McCarthy, on July 7, 1973, the couple moved to Torrington in 1976. Torrington is where they chose to raise their two children; Derek (Deke) and Karey.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and golf. Derek especially loved spending time with his four grandchildren. He was a great story teller and joke teller and he was famous for making up stories around the campfire. He was also an avid Green Bay Packers fan.

Derek was a member of the Moose Lodge and of the American Legion.

Survivors include his wife Linda; son Derek (Deke) and Ingrid Long and their children, Nolan and Natalie; daughter Karey and Mark Johnson and their children Michael and Cody; two brothers, Bobby and Kenny Long; two sisters, Carolyn Leonard and Cheryl Campbell and his dog Beau.

Preceding him in death were his parents.