Aleta R Blachly

August 19, 2020

Aleta R. Blachly, 94, passed away peacefully at Harbor Chase of Sarasota Wednesday night, August 19, 2020. A native of Reading, Pennsylvania, Aleta went to business school in Reading to learn secretarial skills, and then worked as a secretary for a dairy business. She was volunteering for the U.S.O. when she met Joseph H. Blachly of Forrest City, Missouri who would become her life’s partner in marriage for 53 years until he passed in 2000. Together they moved to Columbia, Missouri where Aleta was the secretary to the Dean of Dairy Science at the University of Missouri while Joseph attended school. The Blachly’s called several states home, including Missouri, Maryland, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio before settling in Sarasota in 1983. During those years she and Joseph raised four children, David A. Blachly residing in Dallas, Texas with his partner Deborah Collins; Nancy E. Blachly formerly residing in Tahoe, California; Dennis K. Blachly residing in Warner Robins, Georgia with his wife Nancy J.; and Boni L. Blachly residing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her wife Lynn Kuhlman. David’s daughter Jenny and son-in-law Vance Ayers live in McKinney, Texas with their daughter Kadence and son Micah, Aleta’s great grandchildren. A devoted and committed wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Aleta was a homemaker who loved caring for her family. Along with being an avid floral arranger, table decoration designer, reader, cook, and musician, Aleta was very active in community, church, and women’s affairs. • Faithful and active member of the Northminster Presbyterian Church where she served in many positions • Member of the League of Women Voters who proudly served as a poll worker • Past president of the Palm-Aire Women’s Club • Past president of the Palm-Aire Garden Club and member of the Sarasota Garden Club • She was awarded: o Honorary Lifetime Membership, Phyllis Maisel Award by Presbyterian Women – Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.; 2003 o Honorary Lifetime Membership, Palm-Aire Women’s Club, (presented at 45th anniversary); 2003 o First-time recipient of the Aleta Blachly Award – Palm-Aire Garden Club - to honor special contributing members who have exceptional talent in floral design, gardening, and beautification (presented at 20th anniversary); 2003 Aleta is preceded in death by her beloved husband Joseph, her parents and brother, James Troutman, her daughter Nancy and Nancy’s son, Patrick. Her family and friends will cherish memories of Aleta. An informal graveside service will be performed in honor of Aleta at internment alongside husband Joseph at the Florida National Veteran’s Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial donations may be given in memory of Aleta to: • Tidewell Hospice - The Tidewell Foundation, Inc. 5955 Rand Boulevard, Sarasota, FL 34238 Online donation form at: https://tidewellhospice.org/home/donate-now/ • Doctors Without Borders - PO Box 5023, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5023 Online donation form at: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/sites/default/files/onetimegiftform_3.pdf • World Wildlife Fund - 1250 Twenty-Fourth Street, N.W., P.O. Box 97180, Washington, DC 20090-7180 Online donation form at: https://gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/mailform/mail_form_join.html • or to a church or charity of your choice Condolence cards may be sent in care of David A. Blachly to 1533 Hickory Trail, Allen, TX 75002. Toale Brothers Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.