Funeral services were held at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at the First United Methodist Church in Clayton, New Mexico with Rev. Jay Jones, pastor officiating. Burial followed in the Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton.

Verleen LoRee Atchley was born on April 13, 1936 on the family farm seven miles North of Oakley, Kansas to Ray Nye and Velma Lora (Brittain) Nye. Verleen married Leland Ansley in 1951 in Oakley, Kansas and they had 4 children. They later moved to Alamosa, Colorado and were divorced in 1974. Verleen opened her own Beauty Salon in Alamosa and operated it for many years. She met Gene Atchley in Alamosa and they were later married on September 5, 1981 in Raton, New Mexico. They moved to Perryton, Texas for a little while before moving to Clayton in October of 1982. Verleen was very involved in many organizations including the Phi Beta Kappa Sorority, Federated Women's Club, The Clayton Arts Council where she served as president for 20 years, the Lariat Cowbelles where she was in charge of decorating for the 5 States Cowbelles convention for several years and she was a member and past president of the 20th Century Club. Verleen received the award for Artist of the year in 1977 and was honored in 2008 by the Mayor of Clayton certifying October 3 as Verleen Atchley day. Verleen enjoyed traveling and spent time in Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, The Bahamas and Alaska. She was a gifted artist but her greatest love was always for family. In addition to her parents, Verleen was preceded in death by a daughter; Kimberly Lora Warren, 3 grandchildren; Nathan Warren, Meagan Warren and Caleb Warren and 2 brothers; Wallace Duane Nye and Harold Ray Nye.

SURVIVORS:

HUSBAND: Gene Atchley of Clayton, New Mexico.

2 DAUGHTERS: Vickie Lynn Seegrist of Westminster, Colorado and Christina Dawn Ansley of Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

1 SON: Brian Lee Ansley of Clayton, New Mexico.

3 STEP-DAUGHTERS: Durga Deason and her husband Dan of Grenville, New Mexico, Janell Wiley and her husband Jack of Clayton, New Mexico and Leann Poling and her husband Barry of Texline, Texas.

4 GRANDCHILDREN: Stephanie Whipple and her husband Jim, Michael LeJeune, Yancy Neiswanger and David Warren.

8 step-grandchildren

1 SISTER: Shirley Benda of Tucson, Arizona.

3 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN: Jacqueline Torrey, Kyle Whipple and Isabella Warren.

1 GREAT-GREAT-GRANDSON: David James Torrey.

And 12 step-great-grandchildren.

MEMORIALS: The family suggests that memorials be made in Verleen's Memory to the Clayton Arts Council, P. O. Box 187, Clayton, New Mexico 88415 or to the charity of your choice.