| Sources |
- [S76] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume III, 1974-1986, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 3 Feb 1984.
Mayford Ray "Shoeheel" Atchley obituary
- [S86] McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home, (http://www.mccammonammonsclick.com/), 7 Sep 2006.
Harold Dwight ''Copper Head'' Atchley
March 03, 1937 - September 07, 2006
Birthplace: Wildwood, TN
Resided In: Maryville TN USA
Visitation: September 09, 2006
Service: September 09, 2006
Cemetery: Bethel Cemetery
Harold Dwight “Copper Head” H.D. Atchley, 69 of Townsend passed away September 7, 2006 at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. He was a detective for the Maryville Police Department where he enjoyed 29 years worth of investigating crimes. After retirement, he and wife Phyllis managed the Atchley Cabins in Townsend. When away from the cabins, Dwight led family excursions to Florida or Charleston to spend family time together. Dwight was a member of Parkway Baptist Church, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Kerbela Shriners and Fraternal Order of Police.
H.D. Atchley was also heavily involved in community service with the Maryville College football teams in the 1970's; he was a graduate of Porter High School and Walter State Community College class of 1975.
Preceded in death by parents Mayford Atchley and Alma Myers Atchley of Sevierville. Grandparents Mary and Boyd Myers and Joseph and Delilah Atchley. Survivors include wife Phyllis Stinnett Atchley of Townsend and Children Debbie and husband John Wilbourn, Rick Atchley, Tammi and husband Robert Boone, Sherrie and husband Russell Spencer, Pat and husband Mike Webb. Grandchildren, Sarah and Brett Stahl, Breven and Ross Spencer, Elizabeth and Stephen Carrigan, Mikkii Atchley, Rachel and Carey Mobley, Lydia Wilbourn, Travis Webb, Tamara Bell, Olivia Boone . Great Grandchildren Luke Atchley, Noah and Emmalyn Stahl, Jonas Carrigan, and Lily Davis. Brother, Wayne and wife Faye Atchley. A special thanks to his many friends and colleagues.
Funeral services will be 7:30 pm Saturday at McCammon-Ammons-Click Chapel with Rev. Jack Huskey officiating. Family and friends will meet 2:00 pm Sunday at Bethel Cemetery, Townsend for the interment with military honors. The family will receive friends 6:00-7:30pm Saturday at McCammon-Ammons-Click funeral Home, Maryville, 982-6812
- [S27] The Daily Times, http://www.thedailytimes.com/, (Blount County, Tennessee), 9 Sep 2006.
Former detective dies at 69
2006-09-09
by Anna C. Irwin
of The Daily Times Staff
A retired police detective and more recently the co-owner of a vacation rental property business in Townsend is dead.
Harold Dwight ``H.D.'' or ``Copper Head'' Atchley died Sept. 7 at University of Tennessee Medical Center after a long battle against cancer. He was 69.
Atchley was a graduate of Porter High School and served in the U.S. Air Force. He came home to Blount County where he worked briefly for ALCOA Inc., and the Blount County Sheriff's Office before finding his niche at Maryville Police Department. He was a 1975 graduate of Walters State Community College, earning his degree while working full time as a law enforcement officer.
At the police department, he was promoted from a patrol position to detective. Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp said Atchley always enjoyed his job and ``put his heart and soul into his work.''
In the line of fire
He also put his life on the line several times. Shots were fired into his home and his car blown up while it sat in the carport at his residence during a particularly intense investigation. Crisp, who worked with Atchley for several years, remembered an incident in the early 1980s when Atchley was shot while trying to take a suspect into custody.
``He was saved by his badge,'' Crisp said. ``He was on his way into Sears where he was working as a loss-prevention officer during his off-duty time. He had his badge in the inside pocket of dress jacket.
``He met a man coming out of the store he knew had warrants on him. Dwight stopped the man and was going to take him into custody but the man scuffled with him, managed to grab his gun and shot him. The bullet hit badge and was deflected into his shoulder.
``If his badge hadn't been where it was, he would have been killed right then,'' Crisp said.
Blount County Chief Deputy Ron Dunn said Atchley was especially skilled as an arson investigator and was an officer in the International Association of Arson Investigators. Dunn, who also worked with Atchley at Maryville Police Department, said Atchley represented Maryville with the Regional Organized Crime Information Center.
``He stayed active in arson investigation even after he retired in the early 1990s,'' Dunn said.
Dapper dresser
During his years as a detective, Atchley was always immaculately groomed and sometimes got some good-natured ribbing from his fellow officers for being so well-dressed. His suit or slacks and sport coat were always well-pressed, his shirt and tie color-coordinated, and his shoes shined to a high gloss. He usually wore a ring with a large turquoise and a turquoise-trimmed belt buckle.
After his retirement from law enforcement, Atchley changed his appearance completely, growing a full beard and adopting a casual look more appropriate for his new line of work. He and his wife, Phyllis, managed Atchley Cabins in Townsend, providing vacation accommodations for hundreds of visitors to the area.
Atchley was a member of Parkway Baptist Church, the Fraternal Order of Police, Unitia Masonic Lodge in Friendsville, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, and Kerbela Shriners. In addition to his continuing community service, Atchley also enjoyed organizing and leading family trips to Florida or Charleston, S.C.
Family and services
In addition to his wife Phyllis Stinnett Atchley, the family includes five children -- Debbie and her husband John Wilbourn, Rick Atchley, Tammi and her husband Robert Boone, Sherrie and her husband Russell Spencer, and Pat and her husband Mike Webb. There are 13 grandchildren and spouses, five great grandchildren, and Atchley's brother Wayne and wife Faye.
The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. today at McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home. The funeral service, with the Rev. Jack Huskey officiating, will be at 7:30 p.m. today. Family and friends will meet at 2 p.m. Sunday at Bethel Cemetery in Townsend for interment with military honors.
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