Dr. Miller brought into this world on a cold Armistice Day, 1926 Clyde Joseph Blair, as well as his twin brother Claude Thomas, to W. E. (Bill) and Leona Desmarteau Blair in the living quarters at Campus, Kansas, depot where their father was the telegrapher.

Clyde was the weaker of the twins, and had rickets due to the lack of calcium or vitamin D. He had to have plenty of sunlight and he said later "gallons of cod liver oil!" In later years he was an avid fisherman but would not eat fish! He soon got his nickname "Red" for his flaming red hair, and Claude was nicknamed "Whity." They lived in various places because of seniority in his father's work, before he got his permanent place in Page City, where the boys grew up. During this time, the United States was at war, and the boys were drafted while in school. Some school boys got deferments, but not Clyde and Claude Blair. It was a sad day when they had their physicals and Clyde passed but Claude didn't because of a high school injury. First time they'd be apart, and Claude turned back thinking Clyde couldn't make it without him. Clyde served almost all his time in Germany. He was discharged in November of 1946. In December, he met Naida Blevins from Indiana. After a short engagement they were married in November, 1947. He started working on the Union Pacific Railroad that year, and continued to work until he retired in 1986.

Clyde was the father of four children: Shirley Mae, Stanley Joseph, Myla Kathryn, and Lila Kathleen (who were twins). He was a very proud and loving father. He never, ever spanked Shirley or Stanley, and once when Lila and Myla were throwing a little tantrum he told them to get to bed and stay there until morning. It nearly broke their hearts because they couldn't go and look for tadpoles with Shirley and Stanley!

Once a young neighbor man was working on his car and the gas tank exploded and the young man was in flames running past Clyde toward town. Clyde grabbed a blanket, caught him, rolled him on the ground in the blanket and put out the flames. He was badly burned but was saved. Years later a man whom we didn't know, knocked at our door and asked for Clyde. He said "I'm the person he saved from burning to death when I was a young man." And he said "I could not pass through Oakley without stopping to thank him again for saving me from a burning death." He did many good deeds for people, had many friends. Railroaders knew him from Kansas City to Denver. He and two buddies, Leroy Uhrich and Levi Wassemiller, were considered the Clock Doctors.

Clyde was very meticulous in everything he did. He and Naida went on many trips together after retirement. He said "I drove the Alaskan Highway, but I'll never do it again."

Besides clocks as a hobby, at one time he had 65 striking clocks. What a time winding them when the time changed! And his other collection was monkeys and Clyde had many. He has an adopted red bellied (not red haired) spider monkey named "Clyde" at the Lee Richardson's Zoo in Garden City.

Clyde had been in failing health for about three years. He passed away on January 6, 2015 at 9:45 p.m. He will be greatly missed by family and friends. We loved you, Honey!

Clyde J. "Red" Blair, age 88, died Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at his home in Oakley. He was born November 11, 1926 in Campus, KS to William and Leona (Desmarteau) Blair. Clyde attended high school in Page City. He married Naida Blevins on November 27, 1947 in Oakley. He retired as a track inspector for the Union Pacific Railroad. Clyde was a guard patrolman in the U.S. Army during WWII. He received the Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and Occupation Medal when he served in Germany. He was a lifelong resident of Logan County and Oakley and enjoyed spending time with his grand and great grandchildren. Fishing and clock repair kept him busy.

Preceded in death by his brother, Claude, and son-in-law, Lynn Luetke.

Survivors: wife, Naida of the home, son Stan Blair (Theresa) of Oakley, daughters: Shirley Burroughs (Rob) of Colby and Myla Dawes (Dev) and Lila Jones (Kenny) of Oakley, 13 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and a great-great granddaughter.

Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 10, 2015 at St. Joseph's Church, Oakley, with military honors by Oakley V.F.W. Post 2981, and the U.S. Army, Ft. Riley at St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, with vigil service at 6:30 p.m. Memorials: St. Joseph's School, Hospice Services, and Lee Richardson Zoo, Garden City in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 221, Oakley 67748. Condolences: www.kennedykosterfh.com.