Dr. Ray Mills Antley, of Morganton died Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014. He was born in Richmond, Va., Aug. 1, 1937, to the late H. Ray Antley and Wilhelmina Mills Antley. He grew up in Columbia, S.C., and graduated from Columbia High School in 1955. Dr. Antley received his undergraduate degree from Davidson College in 1958 and his M.D. from Emory University in 1962. He then interned in pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Hospital from 1962 to 1963 and was a Captain in the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1966. Dr. Antley was stationed at the Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport, La. After serving in the Air Force he studied genetics at the University of Wisconsin.
Subsequently he was the head of Medical Genetics at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Ind., for 10 years. During that time he and Dr. David Bixler identified a new cranial facial syndrome, named the Antley-Bixler Syndrome. He then trained as a radiologist and moved to Morganton in 1985 to practice with Dr. Phil Howerton and Dr. Beman Snow. He was board certified in Medical Genetics and Radiology and was one of the founders of Blue Ridge Radiology Associates.
He remained at Blue Ridge Radiology until his retirement in 2011. Dr. Antley loved working in the Morganton community. He established Blue Ridge Radiology Accelerated Reader Awards for area elementary school students. He was a member of the Rotary Club and named a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of Grace Episcopal Church and was a member of Jamestowne Society. Dr. Antley pursued many hobbies. He bicycled from Seattle to Denver in 1976, as a bicentennial event and enjoyed running marathons, one of which he completed in under three hours. He loved collecting antiques, attending operas, and traveling abroad. He was devoted to his family.
Dr. Antley is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Ann McSwain Antley; sons, Dr. R. Mills Antley Jr. and wife, Lisa, of Morganton and Dr. Angus Antley and wife, Elizabeth, of London, England; a daughter, Dr. Catherine M. Antley and husband, Gideon Bavly, of Burlington, Vt.; grandsons, Peter, Eric, and James Antley, of Morganton, Paul and David Fischer, of Burlington, Vt., Jones Ray and Heath Antley, of London; a granddaughter, Meredith Antley, of Morganton; a sister, Mina Mills Antley, of Columbia, S.C.; and a brother, Philip Antley and wife, Joy, of Prosperity, S.C.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 20, at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center. A celebration of Dr. Antley’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 21, at Grace Episcopal Church, in Morganton, with the Rev. Gary Parker officiating. A reception for the family to receive friends will be held in the Parish Hall immediately after the service. Following the reception, interment will be held at Forest Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Episcopal Church Endowment Fund, 303 South King St., Morganton, NC 28655, or to Doctors Without Borders USA, P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5030. Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family. Condolences may be made online at www .sossomanfuneralservice .com.
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