Ruby Catherine Bloxom Dart, DMA

"A celebration of the life of Ruby Catherine Bloxom Dart, DMA, will be held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge, LA, at 6 pm, Thursday, March 30, 2017. Ruby was born in Shreveport, LA, on September 25, 1936, and joined the heavenly chorus on March 25, 2017, after a brief illness. Services will be followed by an informal potluck dinner in St. Luke's Witter Hall. Ruby had been the organist and director of music at St. Luke's since 1965, when she was appointed by her childhood friend, then Rector the Reverend Clarence C. Pope, Jr., who would later become Bishop of Fort Worth. Under her direction the church's music program grew and flourished, as did the music education program of St. Luke's School. Her direct approach to teaching and musical work in the school continues to this day. The pipe organ was expanded three times during her tenure, and the choirs have reached a high level of musical expression. For her 50th anniversary as church organist, in 2015, she was presented with a rank of bells, and the organ was officially named in her honor. After attending Byrd High School in Shreveport, Ruby attended Centenary College (where she sang and was the accompanist for the Centenary Choir), then finished her bachelor's degree in music at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Later she earned her DMA (doctor of musical arts) from LSU. And in 2002 she was named an honorary doctor of music from Nashotah House in Wisconsin. She was a fellow in the American Guild of Organists and was honored by numerous other organizations. She was a member of the Baton Rouge Symphony Chorus 1988-2011. Ruby is survived by two daughters, Catherine Anne Dart and Felicia Lorraine Dart, both of Baton Rouge, grandson Ryan C.D. Desselle, favorite ex-son-in-law Bruce Desselle, sister Ann Bloxom Smith, aunt Lela Alexander, sister-in-law Pat Vandiver Bloxom, nieces and nephews--Steve Douty (Charline), Susan Kreitler (Jim), Paul Markham, Craig Markham (Elena), Jacob Smith (Sarah Jessica), Walt Smith (Sreyoun), Amy Williams (Chris), Mary K. Grubbs (Larry)--and numerous great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Dr. Olin Dart, Jr., her parents, Edward and Ruby Bloxom, her brother, Charles Edward Bloxom, Jr., and her uncles James Alexander, Boyd McGraw and Johnny Ray McGraw. Sincere thanks go to the staff of Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, Dr. Jonathan Taylor and Dr. Mary Raven. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Luke's Episcopal Music Department may be sent to 8833 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806.