Atchison, Perry Dale April 30, 1933 - December 27, 2020

Perry Dale Atchison was born April 30, 1933 to Perry L. and Mary (Sloan) Atchison in Chalk Level, Missouri.  He was the second of five children.  He passed away December 27, 2020 in Lowry City, Missouri.

He lived in Taberville, Missouri until he was 6 years old and then lived west of Lowry City until he finished school.  He served in France during the Korean conflict and received early release so that he could come back to the farm.  Farming was his joy and he spent most of his adult life farming with livestock and row crops.  He rented out his farm land while he served as a county commissioner.

Dale and Mary Cleveland were married April 22, 1956 at the home of her parents.  Their daughter Carla was born February 20, 1957 on her great grandmothers birthday.  Dale worked for Scott’s Propane during this time while farming his father’s land and renting the farm that Dale and Mary ended this life together.  In 1994 he was elected North-Side County Commissioner and served 10 years.  He followed in his fathers footsteps as he also served as a commissioner.

After purchasing the farm in 1968 Mary’s father purchased back a new house that they built and had moved to Lowry City down a two lane highway.  Dale ran most of the way from Osceola to the farm site, nearly twelve miles away.  They slid the house onto the basement that Dale had prepared.  In March of 1969, Dale and Mary adopted their three day old son.  This was a great day when they brought him home.  They had moved into their new house, purchased a new car and brought home their precious baby.

Dale built a pulling sled for antique and classic tractor pulls taking several tractors for Jim to compete with.  This was a family project as Mary weighed in the tractors and used a video camera to record most of the pulls.

Dale purchased 6 tractor-trailers to haul government oats to South Dakota, St. Louis and other places.  He sold the trucks in 1981.

They spent many years traveling to Branson with special friends, Jackie and Richard Stinnett and several other couples to fish in the lake below the dam and going to the music shows on 76 Boulevard.  They would rent cabins and 3 or 4 families would share the rooms, cooking their meals, sometimes the fish that they caught.  The first shows only cost $6.00 per ticket.  In later years the prices went up, but he still enjoyed all of the music and shows.  After his retirement in 2004, Dale and Mary took several trips to Wyoming, Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore.  In 2009 while they were at Mt. Rushmore, a micro-burst came up their drive-way and demolished their implement shed.  Dale hired Amish workers to rebuild the shed and Mary cooked their dinners for a month as that was the deal made by him.

He served on the Lowry City Cemetery Board, Lowry City School Board, Past Commander of the American Legion Post #604, President of Lowry City Community Betterment during the 125 year Celebration, Grand Marshall of the Craft Fair Parade, Family of the Year for Lowry City Community Betterment.

Dale was preceded in death by his brothers, Charles S. Atchison and Will A. Atchison; son-in-law, John Gifford, brothers-in-law, Kenny Wombles and Mark Cleveland; sisters-in-law,  Penny Spicer Atchison (Will); nephew, Dennis Atchison; former brother-in-law, Dave Lightle; great nephew, Nic Jerde and great-great niece, Ava Perrigan.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, of Lowry City, Missouri; daughter, Carla Gifford of Lowry City, Missouri; son, Jim D. Atchison (Kelley) of Lowry City, Missouri; grandsons, Michael W. Gifford (Kelsey), Nathan A. Gifford (Trina); 4 great grandsons and 2 great granddaughters, all of whom were his pride and joy; brother, Gerald Atchison (Dixie); sister, Mary Jane Lightle; sisters-in-law, Pat Cleveland (Mark) and Oleta Atchison (Charles) along with many nieces and nephews.