| Sources |
- [S76] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume III, 1974-1986, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 3 Mar 1987.
Ida Nichols Atchley obituary
- [S78] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume I, 1930-1954, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 25 Aug 1951.
Elijah Hobart Catlett obituary
- [S112] Census, 1930.
Name: James Atchley
Event: Census
Event Date: 1930
Event Place: District 07, Sevier, Tennessee
Gender: Male
Age: 2
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Birthplace: Tennessee
Estimated Birth Year: 1928
Immigration Year:
Relationship to Head of Household: Grandson
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Enumeration District Number: 0009
Family Number: 164
Sheet Number and Letter: 8B
Line Number: 65
NARA Publication: T626, roll 2271
Film Number: 2342005
Digital Folder Number: 4547919
Image Number: 00779
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Sarah Atchley F 69 Tennessee
Daughter Hattie Atchley F 39 Tennessee
Son C M Atchley M 33 Tennessee
Daughter Gertrude Atchley F 29 Tennessee
Daughter-in-law Ida Atchley F 28 Tennessee
Grandson Charles Atchley M 2 Tennessee
Grandson James Atchley M 2 Tennessee
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 14 Jan 2014.
August 14, 1927 - February 14, 2014
Resided in Sevierville, TN
James M. "Chief" Atchley, age 86, of Sevierville passed away Friday, February 14, 2014. He was a former fire chief for the Sevierville/Sevier County Fire Department and a longtime Funeral Director at Atchley Funeral Home. He was longtime owner/operator of Jim Atchley Exxon and car wash. He was a member and lifetime deacon at First Baptist Church, Sevierville, where he faithfully served as chairman of the parking lot committee.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Ida Atchley, brother Charles Atchley, brothers-in-law Dwight Smith and Dick Bottjer, and sister-in-law Mary Ruth Chambers McHaffie
Survivors:
Wife: Billie Catlett Atchley
Sisters: Sarah Smith and Betty Bottjer
Brother-in-law: Reece Catlett and wife Maudella
Niece: Lori Ortega, Ann Murr and husband Danny
Nephews: Ricky Smith, Rich Bottjer and wife Lynn, and Henry Bottjer
Great Niece: Rachael Ortega
Great nephew: Brian Murr and wife Theresa
Great-great nephew: Ben Murr
Great-great nieces: Jessica Murr and Emma Murr
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sevier County Volunteer Fire Department. c/o Chief John Specht, 122 Prince Street, Sevierville, Tennessee 37862 or to First Baptist Church, Sevierville, 317 Parkway, Sevierville, Tennessee 37862
Funeral service 1 PM Wednesday at First Baptist Church, Sevierville with Rev. Jerry Hyder, Rev. Danny Murr officiating with a eulogy delivered by Rich Wallace.. Interment to follow in Alder Branch Cemetery. Friends may call 12-6 PM Tuesday at Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville. (www.atchleyfuneralhome.com)
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 18 Feb 2014.
James “Chief” Atchley, former Sevier County fire chief, recalled as dedicated volunteer
JEFF FARRELL
James Atchley was chief of the Sevierville Sevier County Volunteer Fire Department for more than 30 years.
SEVIERVILLE —
Sevier County lost one of its most dedicated volunteers last week when James “Chief” Atchley died. He was 86.
Atchley was chief of the Sevierville Sevier County Volunteer Fire Department for more than 30 years, and was a volunteer for 40 years before stepping down in 1993.
Working with that department, he helped several other local community volunteer fire departments get started. He was also involved in getting the county’s first E-911 dispatch center.
“He had just meant so much through his work and his volunteerism,” said Sevierville Mayor Bryan Atchley, a cousin and longtime neighbor.
“He never looked for glory, he never looked for recognition, he did his job. And he did it to almost perfection.”
Current Fire Chief Matt Henderson said he recalled first meeting Chief Atchley a child, when Henderson’s family had a radio repair shop that did business with local fire departments. As Henderson grew up and joined the fire department himself, Atchley was still the leader everyone in the department looked to.
“We talk about a command presence,” Henderson said. “He always had a command presence, whether it was at a fire scene or the station.”
Henderson called Atchley a father figure; that was echoed in the plaque placed at the department’s headquarters to honor him upon his retirement: “Not only has he been the chief, but he has been a father figure to all of us. He is highly regarded as a loving and caring man, by both the fire department and community.”
Atchley was a big promoter of fire prevention, sometimes giving families money from his own pocket to buy smoke alarms for their home, Henderson recalled.
Atchley's old department stayed close to his heart throughout his life. His last ride on a firetruck came last year, when an old colleague died and the family asked that the department take its old fire engine to his funeral – and for Chief to ride.
Henderson drove the truck; Atchley rode with him — for the trip to the cemetery and the ride back.
“He was tickled to death to do that. That was his last ride last year, we went from First Baptist Church in Sevierville to Alder Branch Cemetery,” Henderson said.
“I figured he’d ride back with his wife and sister, but he said ‘No, I rode in with you, and I’ll ride back.’’”
Before becoming so involved in the fire department, Atchley owned and ran Jim Atchley Exxon and car wash. He also served as funeral director at Atchley Funeral Home.
His volunteerism extended beyond the fire departments. He was also a lifetime deacon at First Baptist Church of Sevierville and was the chairman of the parking lot committee.
“He did so many things he didn’t get paid for, and he didn’t look for recognition for them,” the mayor said. “He just did them because he saw there was a need, and he filled that need. That was the kind of man he was.”
The funeral service is set for 1 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church, with interment to follow at Alder Branch Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from noon until 6 p.m. Tuesday at Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville.
jfarrell@themountainpress.com
- [S147] Find a Grave, (Memorial: 125257565).
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
ATCHLEY, JAMES M. CATLETT, BILLIE 1951-05-19
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