Herman James Atchley was born Sept. 23, 1929, in Calvin, Oklahoma, to Erastus and Jewell (Ingram) Atchley. He went to be with his Lord Oct. 18, 2012.

Herman served in the Army Air Corp during the World War II.

On Nov. 8, 1950, Herman married Fay Maree Smith in Wheeler, Texas. Herman and Fay moved to Auburn, California. Their first two daughters, Toni and Eva, were born there.

After moving to Arizona in 1954, they added Ben, Karen, Daniel, Mark, David, Michael and Anna to their family. Herman worked at the San Manuel Magma mine as an electrician until 1970, when the family started preparing to migrate to Australia.

In Sept. of 1971, Herman and Fay and the eight children still living at home left for Australia. They all arrived in Sydney on Oct. 2, 1971. After several weeks, Herman drove across to Perth with his family (2500 miles.) The years in Australia would see several more trips into and around the Outback.

Herman and Fay returned to Dudleyville in 1990, and Herman bought their original home place, where he retired.

Herman was preceded in death by his father, Erastus, his mother, Jewell, and his sister, Ima. He is survived by his loving wife, Fay, of61 years, brother Johnny, brother Steven, all nine children: Toni Wilson (Lanny), Eva Lee (Jef), Ben (Esther), Karen Fennell (Eric), Daniel (Kim), Mark, David (Diane), Mike (Kim) and Anna Tyers (Paul); nineteen grand-children, and fourteen great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted 10 a.m., Mon. Oct. 29, 2012, at the Kearny Church of Christ, followed by interment at the Dudleyville cemetery.

Online Guestbook GriffithMortuary.com.

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