Milton M. Ashley M.D.

Milton M. ASHLEY M.D. Milton passed away on Friday, May 16, 2008 after a long and extraordinary life. He was born on September 30, 1922 in West Plains, Missouri to John and Mattie Ashley. He was the youngest of three boys. His mother died when he was ten years old and he went with his father to live on the family farm in Swifton, Arkansas. It was a lonely time for him and it was where he learned the important lessons of life that stayed with him all his life. He went off to the University of Missouri at the age of 16 where he graduated in 1942. Following in the footsteps of his two older brothers, he went to Harvard Medical School graduating in 1945. He did an internship at Rochester General Hospital and residences at Mallory Institute of Pathology, Boston City Hospital and Cushing Veterans Administration. He was Board Certified in Internal Medicine which he practiced for five years in Beverly Hills. He then did a residency in Psychiatry at L.A. County General Hospital and received his Boards in Psychiatry. He started a private practice inBellevue in 1960 and he practiced medicine for 62 years. He loved his work and had an intense interest and curiosity about people and why they behaved the way they did. He had compassion and empathy for people in distress, always believing in the potential for change. Milton served the community in avariety of capacities. He was anAssociate Clinical Professor ofPsychiatry at the University of Washington, and a member of theAmerican Psychiatric Association, serving as President of the Seattle Chapter in 1976-1977 and President of the North Pacific District Branch from 1974-1976. He also served with several local organizations, including being a member of the Board of Directors of East Side Community Health Center from 1962-1972. He was a member of The Bellevue Club and Overlake Golf and Country Club. Milton led life fully, actively andpassionately. He played singlestennis until two months ago. He loved to ski as recently as a year ago. The family traveled extensively, always led by his sense of adventure and fun. He was a total optimist. He would go outside on a gray, rainy day and look up in the sky and say, "It's clearing in the north, I think it's going to be a nice day." He was full of life, laughter, fun and folly. Milton is survived by his loving wife Janet and their daughters Amy and Brigitte. He is also survived by his daughters Johanna Ashley Nye and Carol Ashley Pilon and his former wife Joyce. He was predeceased by his son Mike and his two older brothers Tom and J.D. He is also survived by a large extended family,, including numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews. He was our guardian, friend andprotector. He was a part of so many lives that are better because of him. Family, friends and patients have wonderful and unforgettable memories of the years he walked among us. He will never really leave us. He would want us to laugh and smile today, as he is doing somewhere with his beloved black lab Binky. A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, May 25th at two o' clock at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, N.E. 12th St. at 84th Avenue N.E., Medina. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that donations in his name be made to Old Dog Haven or Hopelink.