Thank you for visiting this memorial page honoring those who either graduated or would have graduated from Granger High School in 1965. We are honoring as many former classmates as we can find who have passed on. They were our friends, associates, teammates and, in some cases, our lifelong partners and companions. We also honor our veterans and those gallant young men who gave their all, in defense of the country they loved so much. To our MIA, James Schiele, we will never forget you and will continue to look forward to the day your remains are returned to the land of the free, the home of the brave.

Thanks to everyone who helped in the development of this memorial page, especially Diane Day Cooper, who would have graduated a Lancer were it not for her parents relocating their family in 1960. Without her, this would not have been possible. Thom Rich

“And each one there has one thing shared, they have sweated beneath the same sun, looked up in wonder at the same moon, and wept when it was all done, for bein' done too soon.” Neil Diamond

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Ken Atchley


Kenneth Bryan Atchley
Montrose Daily Press, The (CO) |  7 January 2011

MONTROSE - Kenneth (Ken) Bryan Atchley passed away Jan. 4, 2011, at his home in Montrose, CO.

Ken was born on March 27, 1947 in Delta, CO. to William Bryan Atchley Jr. and Eleanor L. (Markley) Atchley. When Ken was 3 years old, his father drowned in a fishing accident on Grand Mesa. His mother married his second father, W. Glenn Piner when Ken was about 4 years old. In pursuit of Glenn's aviation career, they lived in Montrose, Moab, Grand Junction and finally Salt Lake City, UT. He was privileged to spend his summers with his grandparents, W. Bryan and Gertrude Atchley in Delta, CO. every year. Many memories were made with aunts, uncles, great-grandparents and cousins during those summer months.

Ken graduated from Granger High School in 1965. He entered the Navy in 1966 during the Vietnam War, serving on the USS Enterprise for 29 months. He was honorably discharged in 1970. He attended Westminster College in Salt Lake City for two years. He returned to Colorado in 1972 where he met and then married Debbie Hampton on June 29, 1974. They celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary in June, 2010. Ken worked at the Idarado Mine south of Ouray as a miner. After being laid off from the mine, he embarked on his career as a lineman for Delta-Montrose Electric Association. He retired from DMEA after 34 years of employment. Ken's hobbies included hunting, fishing, camping with friends and relatives, and the challenges of untangling his kids fishing lines. Ken attended Christ's Church of the Valley and was a charter member. He loved the Lord, his church and his church family.

Ken is survived by his wife Debbie; his three sons, Bryan (Jenny) Atchley, Erie, CO, Kevin (Amber) Atchley, Brighton, CO, Brent (Angie) Atchley, Westminster, CO; two grandsons, Jonathan Cahalan and Noah Kenneth Atchley; mother, Eleanor Piner of West Valley City, UT; three sisters, Glenda (Andy) Clack of Packwood, Wash., Lindy (Dave) Fowkes of Magna, UT and Tracie (Elliott) Reid of South Jordan, UT; brother-in-law, Bob (Gail) Hampton of Montrose; sisters-in-law, Gladys (Jim) Carroll of Villa Grove, CO, Raetta Leiker of Parker, CO; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Ken was preceded in death by his grandparents; fathers, William Bryan Atchley Jr. and W. Glenn Piner; mother-in-law, Sylvia Hampton; brother-in-law, Jim Leiker; twin granddaughters, Emily Ann and Emma Mae Atchley.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P.O. Box 1804, Montrose, CO 81402. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, at Crippin Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011, at Christ's Church of the Valley, Hillcrest Plaza, corner of Hillcrest and East Main Street, Montrose. Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home, 802 E. Main St., Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 249-2121.

Copyright © 2011 The Montrose Daily Press. All rights reserved.

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