Blake Ashley Axtell, age 79 of Montgomery, passed away Friday, January 4, 2019 after a short illness.
Ashley, as he was known to his friends, has been a familiar sight around Montgomery and surrounding areas since 1970. Whether seen on local streets pouring sidewalks, or working at a building site, he was described by many as “the most unusual character I’ve ever met.” Often unkempt and wearing old, dirty, torn clothing, he looked more like a street person working for his next drink than anyone you might want to talk with- that is, until he actually started talking about the workings of a nuclear reactor or Mao’s history in China. Suffice to say, he made a lasting impression on most everyone he met, sometimes good, sometimes bad, but always memorable.
Ash spent his formative years in Washingtonville, served in the Army Security Agency as a linguist and crypt-analyst, graduated from Harpur College in Binghamton, NY and worked briefly as a chemist. Realizing that he was much happier outdoors moving heavy objects around than playing with test tubes in a research and development lab. He soon became an associate in Dennis Lounsbury Builders in Montgomery and spent the rest of his life in the building industry and helping friends with his seemingly endless knowledge on many subjects and a notable talent for fixing things.
He is survived by Judy, his wife of 56 years, his children Randall Axtell and Beth Axtell Coleman, their spouses, Susan Axtell and Andrew Coleman, five grandchildren, Zach, Sam, and Molly Axtell and Evan and Trent Coleman.
Services will be private at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Walden Humane Society, P.O. Box 135, Walden, NY 12586. Arrangements were made by Millspaugh Funeral Directors.