Miles Arshile Long

MILES ARSHILE LONG, 31, of St. Louis, Missouri, formerly of Freeburg, Illinois, passed away on Thursday, December 5, 2019 at his residence.

He was born to Mike and Julie (nee Jany) Long on May 24, 1988 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Miles Arshile Long was an artist, a musician, and beyond everything a friend to all. He was his own person from the day he entered this world. He never bowed to conformity, made his own path and was true to it. It is impossible to list the lives Miles touched and inspired. Every one was precious to him.

Miles was a welder by trade and worked at Affton Fabricating & Welding Co. in Sauget, IL. Over the years he worked at many of St. Louis’s most unique venues. Each of the owners of those establishments would attest to the indelible mark Miles left on each.

Miles was adamant about preserving places, and people.

For many years, Miles worked at the Lemp Mansion. Aside from his routine job duties, he hosted and judged their annual pumpkin carving contest, and assisted noted artist Phil Jarvis with the restor ation of the murals in the front tea room. The restoration took place in January, his mother’s birth month . One day Miles called to tell her that his figure would be painted in the background of one of the murals. He told her when she went to see it to look for him, and when she found him, to move her gaze to the window next to him where he had written “ Happy B-Day Mom.

Miles creativity and imagination was that of 1000 artful souls.

Miles was your friendly doorman and bartender at Off Broadway. He met and listened to many of his favorite musicians while working there, and in true Miles fashion built strong friendships with them as well. He was even invited to play on stage with many. Heck, Miles has probably played in most local music venues in St. Louis. The Shanti in Soulard held a special place in his heart.

Miles worked at and helped open the artisanal meat and vegan restaurant called Gooseberries. His handmade “Gooseberries” lamp is the first thing to greet guests as they approach the front door, and their take home brown bags, stamped with his hand carved stamp (and custom logo) is the last thing to walk out the door. His whimsy and sense of humor embellished their menus, their walls and every patrons experience.

Miles also helped open and tended bar at The Whiskey Ring on Cherokee Street. As with all things, Miles turned bartending into art. He could tell you everything about the drink he was pouring as joined you in a game of chess. He designed their logo and helped with renovations. Miles father grew up in a house just a few blocks away from Whiskey Ring and Cherokee street was a part of his DNA. His parents both loved to take him on adventures at places like Globe Drugs, The Way Out Club and the Iowa Buffet. Miles celebrated his 29 ^th, 30 ^th and 31 ^st birthdays on Cherokee.

He was in so many bands: the Oblivious, the Royal Smokestacks, Drownedfish, Red Ass Jones and the Goldbondsmen and Liquid Gold, to name a few. Liquid Gold was a love he shared with his father and Jackie, and they were all in the band together with Wren, Ferd, Mole, and Roy. Roy picked on him like a brother and loved him as a son. They were their own family as seems custom for people who stumble into the Venice Caf é . Liquid Gold played too many Saturday happy hours at the Venice and the Shanti to count.

Miles hosted the Venice Caf é Monday Nite O pen M ic Nite for about 9 years. It became not just a second home to him but a 2 ^nd family. Jeff, Chad, Red , Jim, Uncle Bill, all helped to nurture him, fight with him, and act like a fool with him.

In between all his other endeavors, Miles became a studio assistant on local DJ and musician Fred Friction’s long running radio show “Fishing with Dynamite” on KDHX. In typical Miles fashion, he became an integral part of the fabric of the show. Miles had an amazing and irreverent sense of humor.

Miles was a voracious reader. He didn ’ t just talk about something, he KNEW about it, he studied it and he shared it. He loved nature and often went hiking, camping, canoeing or bird watching with an Audubon book in hand to learn about the flora and the fauna. He would go anywhere and start drawing on anything available to him. One of his favorite places was his grandpa ’ s farm in Steeleville. He loved the peace that he could find there. He loved to walk in the woods, sit and read in the fields, sketch anywhere and everywhere, or just feel the sun on his face and breath the country air (cow shit included).

He loved to travel especially to go busking in New Orleans. He wrote many pages about his trips (that we won ’ t publish to protect his companions ) . In fact Miles wrote many pages about many things, he wrote and wrote and wrote. I’m sure many of you have a handwritten letter or postcard from Miles tucked in a drawer or taped to your wall. He loved to write letters.

As an artist Miles could do it all: Paint, watercolor, sculpt, etch, stipple , and draw with charcoal, pen and ink. He wasn ’ t just good at any of those, he was exceptional . Miles loved all styles of music and all genre ’s . He played numerous instruments: Acoustic/electric/resonator guitars, bass, banjo, keyboards/piano, drums and percussion, and he could whistle damn well. Do you know how hard it is to whistle songs?

When Miles made friends it was for a lifetime. He and Shawn, his best friend from high school, shared every Thanksgiving together, including this year. Miles was so proud of Shawn’s service to our country, and worried about him when he was away.

Miles Arshile Long lived his life with an open mind and an open heart. He didn ’ t want to be judged and he didn ’ t judge others. We should all follow his example. Miles was a masterpiece.

Survivors:

Mother:

Julie (Rob) Carnahan Red Bud, IL

Father:

Mike “Shorty” (Jackie Niebylski) Long Imperial, MO

Half Brother:

Azreal Long St. Louis, MO

Step Brother:

Garrett (Andrea) Carnahan Clarksville, TN

Grandparents:

Melvin & Rose Jany Steeleville, IL

Yvonne & Larry Lemae Okeechobee, FL

Adopted Grandpa:

Everett “Sag” Delamano Freeburg, IL

2 Aunts:

Angela (Patrick) Carr Hermitage, TN

Rae Long      Norway

Godparents:

Joe and Patti Bailey Arnold, MO

His Venice Cafe family, numerous artists, musicians and friends in St. Louis

Preceded in death by: 1 Step Brother – Nicholas Pavone, Grandfather – Walter Dadisman, 1 Great Grandmother – Virginia Cesek, 1 Uncle - Jerry Long and 1 Aunt – Laura Long

Memorial Service:

11:00 am, Saturday, December 14, 2019

Pechacek Funeral Home, Red Bud, Illinois

Officiating:

Fr. Larry Lemay

Visitation:

Friday – 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Saturday – 8:00 am – 11:00 am

Pechaek Funeral Home, Red Bud, Illinois

Memorials:

Family Choice