Eula Mae Atchley

BURLEY – Eula Mae Atchley age 87, of Burley, passed away Monday, April 15, 2024, at Cassia Regional Hospital in Burley, from a sudden illness.

Eula was born March 12, 1937, in Ashton, Idaho, to W.R. and Eloise Bradley Atchley. Eula was nicknamed “Eudie” at a very early age; it was a nickname that stayed with her for the rest of her life.

Eudie was an only child who was beautiful, smart and sweet. She was the perfect daughter, who was very, very much loved and adored by her doting parents. Eudie had naturally curly hair and the most sparkling beautiful blue eyes that twinkled like stars.

At the early age of four, Eudie and her parents left Ashton and moved to Sylva, North Carolina where her mother, Eloise, had grown up; at this time her father took up the carpentry profession. Eudie went to schools in Sylva and graduated with honors in 1955 from Sylva High School. She then enrolled at Western Carolina University to study elementary education.

Eudie’s plans for becoming a teacher all changed in December of 1957. While at an Atchley family reunion in North Carolina, Eudie met the love of her life, Bill Edward Atchley, from Ashton, Idaho. Bill was a potato farmer, who along with his dad, Alonzo, and younger brother, Lonnie, came to attend the reunion. It was love at first sight for the beautiful Eudie and the handsome Bill. After a whirlwind romance they quickly became engaged. In the summer of 1958, Bill and Lonnie, returned to North Carolina for the wedding. Eula and Bill were married at the Baptist Church in Dillsboro, North Carolina on June 14, 1958. The newlyweds then returned to Ashton, where Bill farmed potatoes with his dad.

In April, 1959, Eudie and Bill had their first child, a son, Michael Steven. In 1961, their daughter, Shawna Gail was born. The following year in 1962, Lisa Lee was born, completing their family of five.

In 1967, the family moved from Ashton to Moscow, Idaho, so that Bill could complete his Master’s Degree in Agriculture from the University of Idaho. The family then moved to Burley, Idaho, in December of 1968, after Bill received his Master’s Degree and was hired by the McDonalds Corporation as Director of Quality Assurance for potato supplies for the McDonald’s restaurants.

The family has since resided in Burley and called it their home. Eudie and Bill loved the close-knit community and the people who lived there. Eudie was wonderful – a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a loving daughter who cared for her elderly mother for almost 30 years, until Eloise passed away at the age of 99.

Always beautiful and stylish, Eudie loved clothes, shoes, purses, jewelry and all things pretty. After her children were in school, she worked for Cleo’s Clothing, VanEngelen’s Clothing and Sunset Sports. Eudie’s paychecks usually went to purchase stylish clothing for her family. She loved and cherished her husband, kids, grandkids, and great-grand babies. She was very proud of all of them. Eudie was especially proud of her husband, Bill, and his many accomplishments. She had a good life and even though she was small and petite, she was a strong woman who, over the course of her life, overcame cancer not once, but twice and survived.

Eudie was an excellent cook and immaculate housekeeper. The Atchley house was where all the kids in the neighborhood hung out after school – mostly because of Eudie’s fresh-baked cookies with milk and numerous fun games to play. Always elegant and beautiful, Eudie had a keen eye for fashion and dressed beautifully.

Eudie loved her home, music, flowers, reading, gardening, and taking pictures. She always loved visiting with people and was always kind and friendly to everyone she met. Eudie’s passing leaves a huge hole in her family’s hearts, but we find peace knowing that she’s now in Heaven being loved and adored, making Heaven even more beautiful.

Every time we see a star sparkle in the night sky, we will think of Eudie and her beautiful twinkling blue eyes.

Eudie was preceded in death by her parents; her father-in-law, Alonzo Shannon Atchley; mother-in-law, Lola LaRue Rush; and grandson, Lance Lane Parish.

Her survivors include her husband of nearly 66 years, Bill Edward Atchley; son, Mike (Connie) Atchley; daughters, Shawna (Christopher) Wolf, and Lisa (Randy) Parish all of Burley; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and brother-in-law, Lonnie (Kathy) Atchley.

Rest in peace our precious beautiful Eudie! Your unconditional, unwavering love for all of us has touched our lives and hearts forever. Thank you Eudie for making the world a more beautiful place. We love you and we will miss you!

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 4, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, located at 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, where family and friends will be received from 10 until 10:45 a.m. prior to the service.

The interment and graveside service will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, May 6, at Pineview Cemetery in Ashton, Idaho. A reception will follow at the Ashton Community Methodist Church, located at 178 S. 5th St., in Ashton.

A Video Tribute to the Life of Eula Mae Atchley is available at the following link: https://youtu.be/m8jpRVyfnYM.