Douglas Conly , longtime resident of Lincoln Street in St. Johnsbury, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010, at the age of 92. He was born in St. Johnsbury on June 11, 1918, the son of Herbert William and Glenn (Tisdale) Conly. Doug attended schools in St. Johnsbury and was a 1936 graduate of St. Johnsbury Trade School. He took great delight in telling stories about his youth growing up "on the farm" on Higgins Hill and walking long distances to and from school each day. He married Loretta Veilleux Oct. 24, 1942. She passed away Jan. 17, 2005. While working at the Navy shipyard in Bath, Maine, he volunteered for service in the Army in 1942. For most of his enlistment, he was stationed in Oak Ridge, Tenn., helping to build the infrastructure for the Manhattan Project. Upon receiving his honorable discharge in 1945, he returned to St. Johnsbury and worked along side his father Herb and older brother Bill who had also just returned from serving his country in World War II. The local business was then known as H.W. Conly's Plumbing and Heating, operating out of their shop under the Portland Street bridge. Doug and Bill became partners in the business upon the passing of their father in 1961, when the business became known as Conly's Plumbing and Heating. Doug took up the game of golf and regularly played at St. Johnsbury Country Club with his dear friend Lawrence "Stub" Clark. An avid vegetable gardener and groundskeeper, he kept busy during the summer season experimenting with different plantings and gardening methods. His well-equipped basement shop allowed him to pass the winters with woodworking and metalworking hobbies. Doug also very much enjoyed reading Louis Lamore novels and historical nonfiction. Like most his age, Doug took pride in his frugal and conservative nature and enjoyed a good political argument with several of his nieces' husbands. Although not a deeply religious man, Doug took solitude in nature and helping those in need. As a New York Yankee fan, October was his month to kid his acquaintances that happened to be Red Sox fans including his wife and son George. Doug had been a resident of Canterbury Inn since January of this year and made many new friends and acquaintances while there. He is survived by two sons, George H. Conly and wife Ruth (Porter) of Cape Elizabeth and Sweden, Maine, and Douglas D. Conly and wife Patricia (Houghton) of Lyndonville; four grandchildren, Christopher Conly of Brooklyn, N.Y., Kara Conly of Tacoma, Wash., Melissa Conly-Newland of Danville, and Patrick Conly of Lyndonville; one great-grandchild, Madison Lorraine Newland; a sister, Mildred Conly Adams residing at the St. Johnsbury Health & Rehab Center; numerous nieces and nephews. Besides Loretta, Doug was predeceased by his brother William Herbert Conly, and a sister, Harriett Conly Benoit Johnson. Funeral services will be held at Sayles Funeral Home Monday, Oct. 25, at 11 a.m. Mr. John Sleeper will officiate. Military honors will follow at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held at the funeral home Sunday afternoon from 1 to 3. Memorial contributions may be directed to Kingdom Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 462, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819.