Augusta Ernestine Atchley

Augusta Ernestine Atchley, better known as Ernestine, was born on October 2, 1937, in Benton, AR. She died on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Ardmore, at the age of 86.

At the early age of 7, Ernestine and her family moved from Benton to Valliant, where she was raised. In 1976, she and her children moved to Davis where she would meet James Waldon Atchley. After five years of him asking, Ernestine finally married James on July 19, 1981, in Davis. She and James enjoyed 30 years of marriage prior to his death on July 3, 2011.

Survivors include three daughters, Terry Lynn Adams of Davis, Tina Marlene Thomasson of Konawa, and LeeAnn Nation and husband Ricky of Valliant; three sons, Benjamin Allen Richards and wife Anita of Madill, Robert Lee Richards of Davis, and Clifton “Chipper” Kirby of Davis; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Eugene Goshen and wife Shelia; as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Ernestine was preceded in death by her mother, Sarah Ellen (Bearden) Kirby; father, Kenneth Goshen; infant daughter, Trudy Wilbanks; grandson, Cecil Lynn Wilbanks; great-granddaughter, Paige Rosenthaw; four sisters, Pansey Cole, Bessie Wyatt, Kay Hastings, and Opal Gardener; two brothers, Clay Kirby and Leroy Goshen; as well as her best friend and sister-in-law, Helen Richards.

Funeral services were held 10:00 a.m, Tuesday, Feb. 13, at the First Baptist Church of Davis, with Pastor Tom Whitaker officiating. Interment will follow at the Green Hill Cemetery in Davis.

Services are “entrusted to” Hale’s Funeral Home of Davis. Online condolences can be offered at halesfuneralhomes.com.