Atherton

           Finley David Atherton, son of Harlan and Elsie (Mehaffey) Atherton, was born on June 25, 1919, at DeKalb, Illinois.  He was educated in the Woodburn and Weldon schools.  Finley was a veteran of World War II.  On April 9, 1950, he married Georgia Joanne Weaklend in Princeton, Missouri.  Georgia was born August 15, 1929, the daughter of George and Veva (Reese) Weaklend.  She attended Clarke County schools.    Georgia had a child by a previous marriage, Judy Marie (Roberts) Boals.

            They lived in Woodburn many years operating the Woodburn Food Market and Finley also drove a school bus.  Finley worked for the Clarke County road grader patrol for 30 years.  He was a former member of the Clarke County Sheriff’s Posse, Herndon-Oehlert Post #157 at Woodburn, and the Christian Church at Osceola.  Finley loved being outdoors - fishing, gardening and woodworking were his hobbies.  Georgia liked working in the garden, watching sports, playing cards, dancing, and visiting with people.  She was a member of the Woodburn American Legion Auxiliary.   She worked at Robinson’s and Snowdon’s in Osceola and Gross Galesburg in Chariton.  Georgia was a dispatcher for the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office for many years.  

            Finley and Georgia moved to Osceola shortly after their retirement in 1981.  Finley passed away on May 15, 1992, at Des Moines, Iowa.  Georgia passed away on May 3, 2005.   Her daughter, Judy, preceded her in death.  They are buried at the Belmont Cemetery at Milo, Iowa.

Their daughter is Sue Anne [Utley].