Robert Chessley (Bob) Atchison was born to William Jessie and Ora Mae (Watson) Atchison, January 4, 1929, in the Oliver Springs Community and passed from this life October 12, 2023, in the De Leon Nursing and Rehab, De Leon, Texas.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at 2 pm in the Nowlin Anders Funeral Chapel, De Leon, Texas with interment following in the Oliver Springs Cemetery.  Pastor Richard Watson officiated the services.

Chessley always stated that he had the best childhood that anyone could ever have. He attended schools at Oliver Springs and later in the Gorman schools until the 11th grade. However, his most frequented schools of "learning" were the Gorman Pool Hall and farming with his father.

He married Barbara Harrell Pair November 25, 1948, in De Leon and was married until her passing in 1994 after 46 years of marriage. They had two children: Ouida Joyce and Chessley Royce.

Chessley worked for Lone Star Gas until entering the Air Force in 1950.  While in the military, he was introduced to a new IBM Computer where he began his career in computer science.  After discharge from the Air Force in 1954 he began work at Convair/General Dynamics in Ft Worth. His new job required that he take computer programming courses. Shortly after beginning his courses at TCU, he was called into the Dean's Office where the Dean proceeded to inform him that he could not attend TCU because he never completed high school. That only made him more determined, so he kept attending classes, made his grades and was never again bothered by the Dean.

He retired from General Dynamics and then from Computer Science Corporation in 1994.  His title upon retirement was Senior Computer Programmer Analyst Consultant.

He and Barbara purchased his grandparents J. N. and Ora Watson's homeplace in Gorman, Texas in 1960 and weekend farm life ensued until his retirement where he went full time. His passion was always the farm and his cows that he fondly referred to as the "girls". No one loved his family and extended family more than he did. In 2013, he married Vera Ingram. During that time, he lived in Cisco and drove back and forth to the farm every day until he fell ill in 2020.

He was proceeded in death by his wife, Barbara; his parents, Jessie and Ora Mae Atchison; brother, Jessie Elwyn Atchison; and son-in-law, Chris Gartman.

He is survived by his wife, Vera of Cisco; daughter, Ouida J. and Tommy Vian of Pleasant Valley; son, Ret. Lt. Col. and Mrs. Chessley R. (Evelyn) Atchison DVM, PhD of Gorman; grandchildren, Tiffany and Brant Baudoin and 4 children of Fair Oaks, Casey and Lance Jordan and 2 children of Iowa Park, Maj. and Mrs. Jessie (Marissa) Atchison MD and 2 children of Savannah, GA, Sr. Airman William C. Atchison, McChord, AFB, Valerie Gartman and son, Granbury, Christal Gartman and 4 children of Midland, Thomas Vian, Jr. and 3 children, Woodland Park, Co, Chris Vian and wife, Kiley and 3 children, Bowie.  In addition, very special family friends Nic Herlevic and family and Darren Clark and family.