Dolores Camille Gordon Atchison

Dolores Camille Gordon Atchison was born on December 19, 1943 in Lubbock, Texas. Her parents were Jesse B Gordon and Oleta Owens. She was joined by a sister, Janice, 3 years later, making their family complete. Dolores attended Lubbock Monterey High School, graduating in 1962. While in high school, a friend, Joe Strange set her up on a blind date with the man she would later marry, James Atchison. Dolores and James were married on February 9, 1963 in Lubbock, Texas. At the time of James’ death in 2016, they had celebrated 53 wedding anniversaries. To this union, they welcomed two daughters – Amelia Jane (Amy) in 1967, and Pamela June (Pam) in 1970. Following graduation from high school, Dolores began working at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (now part of AT&T) as a Residential Sales Representative. She excelled at this job, winning several awards for top sales results. In 1968, she and James moved to Levelland, Texas and she began working at Levelland State Bank. In 1971, the young family moved to Texhoma, Oklahoma where James had been transferred with his job. While in Texhoma, Dolores embraced the role of stay at home mom to her 2 girls, becoming a troop leader for Amy’s Brownie (Girl Scouts) troop, volunteering at Amy’s school, instilling in both Amy and Pam the love of reading, education, music, art, exploring the world around them and helping others. Dolores and James made many lifelong friends there and hosted an exchange student from Sao Paulo Brazil. It was in Texhoma that Dolores first joined the service sorority, Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA – Educational Service Association), Nu Theta chapter. She was named Jonquil Girl as a part of that chapter as well. 1974 brought another promotion for James to the larger town of Boise City, Oklahoma. The family spent 2 ½ years there where Dolores continued her involvement in ESA, continued sharing the gift of her beautiful singing voice by singing in the church choir where she was often the soloist, helping with her daughters’ school endeavors and leading Girl Scout troops. Late 1977 brought James another promotion and the family moved to Denver City, Texas – where they would spend the next 40 years of their lives. After getting settled, Dolores began a new job as the bookkeeper for the local newspaper, The Denver City Press. Her next job was working for Yoakum County State Bank as a teller. She then spent several years as an Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper for T&C Tank Rentals. When her youngest daughter, Pam, graduated from high school, Dolores surprised everyone by going to work for the Denver City Press again – this time as a staff writer/reporter/photographer. She even won an award in 1990 as a staff writer at the Press for her Distinguished Service and Outstanding Contribution to the DEBT Early Childhood Intervention Program for Young West Texas Children with Developmental Delay and Their Families. She finished out her working life as Administrative Assistant/Office Manager/Bookkeeper for United Machine and lastly as Administrative Assistant for the local CPA. She was also the Office Manager/Queen Bee for James’ electrical contracting business, Atchison Electric which he began in 1984, at the same time as her “day job”. Somehow Dolores found time while doing all of that to continue volunteering her time and talents at church (teaching Sunday School, helping with Vacation Bible School, faithfully singing in the choir); helping and supporting her daughters’ academic endeavors, driving them both to extracurricular activities such as gymnastics, softball, basketball, cheerleading, etc.; cooking and delivering meals for the local Meals on Wheels; hosting a foreign exchange student from the Canary Islands, and serving her community in numerous other ways. Dolores also continued her membership in the service sorority, ESA. This time in the Denver City chapter of Kappa Tau. She served as President 1980-1981 and was selected as ESA Woman of the Year 1980. Over the years, Dolores could be counted on to sing the National Anthem at various sporting events and to volunteer her time and creative talents to various events held in town. Dolores was an exceptional mother, wife and friend. She was the most thoughtful, kind, generous person you could ever hope to meet. She never met a stranger and went out of her way to help others. She was a very proud and involved mother to not only her daughters but to countless others. Dolores absolutely adored her grandsons and reveled in being a grandmother. “Dolo” was incredibly proud of all three of them and would happily share all about them to anyone who asked. They will each miss her so very much. After James’ passing in 2016 and receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, she moved in 2017 to St. Anthony’s Gardens (an Assisted Living/Memory Care facility) in Covington, LA near her daughter Pam. Even though she was sad to leave her home of 40 years, she exhibited a great deal of grace in making that transition. She quickly made friends in her new home and St. Anthony’s took exceptional care of her. She passed away unexpectedly and suddenly, but peacefully on May 2, 2020. She is survived by her daughter, Amy, her husband Damon Fisher and their son, Owen Marshall Fisher of Driftwood, TX; her daughter, Pam, her husband Tim Georges and their sons, Carter Andrew and Spencer Timothy Georges of Mandeville, LA. In addition, survivors include her sister-in-law, Barbara Coleman of Abilene, TX; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins - all of whom she loved dearly. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, James; her parents, and her younger sister, Jan; as well as her first grandson, Parker James Georges. Arrangements are with Grace Funeral Home in Covington, Louisiana and Ratliff Funeral Home in Denver City, Texas. Visitation and viewing will take place on Thursday, May 14 10am - 2pm at Ratliff Funeral Home in Denver City, Texas. For those that are unable to attend given current restrictions and precautions, a Zoom link to view virtually will be provided. Interment to follow immediately after in Denver City Memorial Park. There will be no service there at this time. Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, June 27 (subject to change given the current pandemic situation) at 11am at the First United Methodist Church in Denver City, Texas. Lunch to follow. Dolores’ daughters, Pam & Amy as well as their families will be in attendance. Honorary Pall Bearers are her sons-in-law, Damon Fisher and Tim Georges; and her grandsons, Carter Georges, Owen Fisher, and Spencer Georges. In lieu of flowers - information regarding memorial remembrances are as follows:

Food Bank of Denver City (c/o First United Methodist Church), 210 W. 4th Street, Denver City, Texas 79323. Please indicate In Memory of Dolores Atchison. Or, Christ Episcopal School in Covington, Louisiana (Pam's school)– please put in the memo: Dolores Atchison – Lower School Children’s Garden. Christ Episcopal School, 80 Christwood Blvd., Covington, LA 70433. Dolores would be honored if everyone would call a friend and have a good old fashioned chat, send a card to someone to let them know you’re thinking about them or to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, plant some flowers in your garden, sit outside and enjoy the beauty of a butterfly or a bird’s song, sing for the sheer joy of it, spend time with your family, help someone in need and think of her. An online guestbook is available at www.gracenorthshore.com.