Feb. 3, 1934 — Dec. 30, 2008

John Arthur Atchley Jr., 74, of Sodaville passed away Tuesday at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center.

John was born in Seattle, Wash., to John Sr. and June Opal (Thompson) Atchley. He attended Meridian schools east of Kent, Wash., and joined the Air Force in 1951. He was stationed in Great Falls, Mont., and served as a base tower operator. He returned to Kent to help in the family chicken-raising business, where he met his wife. He married Marlene Bruns in Auburn, Wash., on Aug. 21, 1954.

John served his electrical apprenticeship in Seattle from 1955 to 1959. In 1960 the family with three children began following construction with a 40-foot house trailer, settling in Oregon in 1963 and in Sodaville in 1964. John worked out of town often. He spent his time home with the family boating, camping and the best was the hunting trips to the favorite spot, Hells Canyon. John had a good time playing Santa for his grandchildren. He enjoyed building and had many major projects at home.

John worked for Lebanon Electric and then L.H. Morris of Springfield until 1982. In 1982, John and business partner Perry Murray founded an electrical company, Murray Electric in Roseburg. In 1986, John and sons Jerry and Jim founded a logging company, Atchley Brothers Inc. He enjoyed working with his sons whenever time permitted.

After retiring, he worked a new project each year; the most special was building his kit airplane. John loved to fly for business and pleasure and enjoyed time in the air and at the airport with his friends. He belonged to the Oregon Pilots Association Lebanon Chapter, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, Lebanon Elks Lodge and American Legion and Masons Lodge 59 in Kent, Wash.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Marlene of Sodaville; sons John Atchley III of Lebanon, Jerry B. Atchley of Lebanon and James L. Atchley of Prineville; daughters Joyce Atchley of Newport and Jeannine Graham of Redmond; brother Alvin Atchley of Kent, Wash; sisters Mary Proudfoot of Casper, Wyo., Susan Gascon of Rogue Valley and Nancy David of Phoenix, Ore.; 17 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Viewing will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at Huston-Jost Funeral Home. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Huston-Jost Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Rock Hill Cemetery near Lebanon.

The family requests memorial contributions be sent to the Shriner’s Hospital or SafeHaven Humane Society, in care of Huston-Jost Funeral Home, 86 W. Grant St., Lebanon, OR 97355.