Johnnie Pauline Atchley, 91, a longtime resident of Silver City, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 1, 2015, surrounded by loved ones at her home. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM at Bright Funeral Home Chapel on July 8, 2015. Mr. Don White of Bible Baptist Church officiating. Internment will follow at Fort Bayard National Cemetery, Fort Bayard, NM.
Mrs. Atchley was born May 8, 1924 in Dexter, NM. She was the daughter of Joe and Lily Griffin. She graduated from Dexter High School where she met the love of her life, Jake Donald Atchley. They married soon after graduation on January 26, 1942, and started a long and happy life of 70 years together. They lived in several places in West Texas in the early years as Jake Donald worked in the oil fields.
In 1950 Jake Donald and Johnnie accepted Christ as their Savior and in 1953 Jake Donald surrendered to be a preacher. He and Johnnie moved to Springfield, MO, with their 3 children and 1 on the way so that he could attend Bible Baptist College. Johnnie served by her husband's side as a wonderful Pastor's wife. They lived together raising their children and pastored churches in Carlsbad, NM, Dumas, TX, and Odessa, TX. They relocated in 1972 to Silver City, NM, where they pastored two churches and where they retired.
Johnnie was a beautiful example of a wonderful Pastor's wife, mother, grandmother and friend to all she meet. She loved people and enjoyed opening her home to everyone. She loved writing letters to friends and family on a regular basis (Christmas especially). When she was healthy she loved traveling and she and Jake Donald made many trips to Disney Land with their children and grandchildren.
She will be dearly missed by her family and all who knew her. Johnnie is survived by her five children: daughter, Donna Sue Russell and her husband, John, of Carlsbad, NM; son, Mitchell Atchley and wife, Rhonda of Cross Plains, TX; son, Larry Atchley and wife, Carol of Las Cruces, NM; daughter, Mary Jo Johns and husband, Roy of Phoenix, AZ; daughter, Phyllis Morales of Silver City, NM. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren €”Lora Brittain, Julie Atchley, Renee Atchley, Seree Spencer, Sabrina Atchley, Josh Atchley, Buddy Joe (BJ) Howard, Jessica Morales, Jake Morales, Jennifer Morales, and Joseph Morales.
She was preceded in death by her father, John Wallace, mother, Lily Griffin, stepfather, Joe Griffin by her beloved husband, Jake Donald Atchley, her grandson, Jodie Brittain, and her granddaughter, Shawna Grill. Pallbearers are Jake Morales, Joseph Morales, Albert Morales, Josh Atchley, BJ Howard, Roy Johns, and Tyler Johns.
Bright Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, "Traditional Services and Care for your family and friends", 210 W. College Ave., Silver City, New Mexico 575-388-1911. To send condolences login to www.brightfuneral.net.