Arlie Haskell Derie

Arlie was born on January 17th, 1930 in Marble County, AR to William and Lydia Derie. Survivors include his younger brother, Willie Joe and son, me, Gene Derle plus numerous nephews and nieces.

He played baseball at his High School, The School of the Ozarks, thus resulting in his longtime nickname, "Lou".

He was a twenty year Air Force Veteran serving in Okinawa during the Korean War, and as a "Mole- Holer" at SAC Headquarters, Offutt AFB during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After three years in Ankara, Turkey, he finished his AF career at AZ State University with the ROTC Program from 1968 to 1971.

After retiring he became the pitching coach for ASU "Sun Devils" for a few years, then moving on to be a coach with the "Tempe Diablos", a semi-pro team.

He then put aside his baseball career and moved on to the golf course for the rest of his life. Starting in 1967, he picked up a golf club and successfully hit a ball reasonably straight. Lou put his G.I Bill to good use, playing as a Scottsdale Community College "Fighting Artichoke". Moving on again he found himself working at golf courses thought-out the United States. Taking his golf game seriously, he became one of the top amateaur golfers in Arizona in his 50's. In fact he won the 1985 AZ Stroke Play Championship and was named "The 1989 Golfer of the Year," by the AZ Association.

I now fondly look back that he still took the time to instruct me on "How to pitch a baseball correctly" and felt to continue to give me "Golf Lessons" earlier this year even though my playing of the game started at the age of nine.