Samuel Harvey Atchison

Samuel Harvey Atchison, 74, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, July 9, 2021, at his beloved family cabin in Cuchara, Colorado. A memorial service celebrating his life will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 17, 2021 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1200 W Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington, TX 76013. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Arlington Urban Ministries (AUM) 701 Dugan St. 76010 and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation PO Box 89367, Tampa, FL 33689. Harvey was born in Dallas, Texas on February 2, 1947 to Chester Lee and Olena (Davidson) Atchison. Harvey grew up with his brother, Chester Lee Jr. and sister, Valeria. He attended Sunset High School where he was involved in ROTC. After graduating in 1965, he went on to pursue a degree in history at the University of Texas at Arlington. While there he became a charter member of the Arlington Delta Upsilon fraternity chapter. He joined the Texas Army National Guard as an airborne infantryman. His unit was later redesignated as the 49th armored division, where served as a tank driver. During this time he became acquainted with a Dallas firefighter and decided to pursue firefighting as a career. Harvey always strived to better himself and help others. He was certified in high-angle rescue and was a member of his department's dive team. He later became the Captain of Urban Search and Rescue - Texas Task Force 2 before retiring from the department after 40 years in 2012. Having had his hands burned early in his career, he learned the skill of wood carving as a form of rehabilitation. He eventually took lessons from a master woodcarver and became accomplished himself. Harvey married his love, Sandy Tichenor, in 1975. They have two children: Matthew (Karen) and Michael (Danielle). As a loving father, he enjoyed being involved in his children's activities such as Boy Scouts, camping, and church service projects. He was an amazing craftsman who did home renovation, sculpting, tree felling, and auto maintenance. Being blessed with grandchildren (Hunter and Taylor) later in life, they became a source of much joy. Harvey was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend who will be sorely missed. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother. Survivors include his loving wife, Sandy, two children, two grandchildren, sister, brother-in-law Chris Copeland, and six nieces, Kristal Hill, Angela Gilbert and husband, Todd, Dara Springer and husband, Clint, Diana Schermerhorn, Cathy Rogers and husband Clayton and Cindy Mauldin and husband Don. Wade Family Funeral Home 817-274-9233