Howard Samuel Blachly was born in Kansas City on 1-29-1936 and left his earthly home to join his heavenly Father on 4-26-09. Howard was the son of Clark and Ocie (Hills) Blachly, growing up in Jamestown, Kansas. Howard was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Sue Annette. He is survived by a son Matthew of Spring Hill, Florida and his sister Cindy Daniels and husband Harvey of Lindsborg, nieces Taunya Hammontree and husband Craig of Shawnee and Heather Matter and husband Jude of Jewell. Howard graduated from the Jamestown Public school schools in 1954 and then attended Bethany College. He served in the US Army and also the US Air Force, doing so in the late 1950's and the early 1960's. In the service he served as a clerk-typist and chaplain's assistant, doing so in Alabama and Munich, Germany. After discharge from the service Howard worked at a variety of careers which included being a railroad station agent, a computer accountant, auditor and bookkeeping supervisor at DST, Inc., and eventually a maintenance person at a large apartment building in Kansas City, Missouri. He was exceptionally talented at fixing large electrical items, such as commercial air conditioner units, feeling great satisfaction in knowing that no one else had a clue about how to make it run. Howard enjoyed Kansas City and chose to live there much of his adult life. Howard was an accomplished pianist, giving lessons for a few years. While living in Junction City he was organist and choirmaster for the Episcopal Church of the Covenant. As an adult Howard joined the Episcopal Church. Howard was fascinated with trains, growing up less than a block from the Jamestown train depot. When he was a teen, he had the opportunity to ride in the engine with the conductor. His Mother said that the reason Howard had flat feet was because he would stand out by the tracks and jump up and down when the trains came through town. Another love of Howard's was for the weather, especially if it was in the throws of developing a thunder storm. He would usually be outside watching the clouds get darker and darker. A game of monopoly could go on all night for Howard, as he played explicitly by the rules. Everyone else might be getting really tired, but not Howard. In the last ten years of his life, Howard experienced a number of health issues, which limited his activities. In visiting with persons in the apartment complex during the past 3 years, many of the residents and staff told us that they would really miss his being around. One of the pleasures during his last ten years was eating out, doing so almost daily. One of the messages on his answering machine was that from the staff at Denny's saying they were missing him, as he had not shown up for a few days. They were hoping that he was alright. He will certainly be missed by his family and other friends. Memorial services will be held at 3:00 PM, Saturday, May 16, 2009 at Jamestown United Methodist Church, Jamestown with Rev. Frank Pekarek & Pastor Norma Thompson officiating and committal to follow at the Jamestown Cemetery.  Friends may sign the register book from 11 AM to 5 PM, Friday, May 15, 2009 at Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, Concordia.  The family suggests memorials to the American Diabetes Assoc.