Patsy Atchley

Patsy L. Atchley, 80, of Greenville, South Carolina, died Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, at The Palmettos Assisted Living in Greenville.

She was born June 27, 1934, in Bloomfield, Missouri, daughter of Ruthford and Maggie Cook Limbaugh. She was the widow of Dr. Bill L. Atchley, former president of Clemson University.

Pat attended Hickey Secretarial School in St. Louis. Upon graduation she went to work for the FBI in St. Louis. Pat and Bill married in 1954 and moved to Rolla, Missouri, where Bill worked at the University of Missouri-Rolla.

She spent most of her adult life as the first lady of Clemson University (1979-1985); the University of the Pacific, Stockton, California (1987-1998); and Southeast Missouri State University (1998-1999). 

Pat volunteered on the advisory board for the Hollings Cancer Center and the Cerebral Palsy Center in Rolla. She was an active participant with the local hospice of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. She was known to her many friends and family as a women of strong character with a big personality.

Surviving are two daughters, Julie (Robert) Smith of Florissant, Missouri, Pamela Still of Shelby, North Carolina; a son, David Atchley of Greenville; a daughter-in-law, Toni Atchley of Greenville; five grandchildren, Steven and Gregory Smith, Kristin Still, and Alex and William Atchley; a great-grandchild, Melanie Smith; and a sister, Phyllis Jones of Austin, Texas.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date in Clemson and a memorial service in Cape Girardeau.

J.F. Floyd North Church Street Chapel in Spartanburg, South Carolina, is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, South Carolina Chapter, 4124 Clemson Blvd. Suite L, Anderson, SC, 29621, online at alz.org; or Project Hope Foundation for Autism, PMB 358 Suite 2100, 2131 Woodruff Road, Greenville, SC, 29607, online at projecthopesc.org.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Palmettos Assisted Living and the caregivers at Caris Hospice and Synergy for their wonderful and compassionate hearts in taking care of Pat in the last chapter of her life.

An online guest register is available at floydmortuary.com.