Terry Gene Ray

Terry Gene Ray, 90, of Highlands, North Carolina, passed away on December 29, 2025, after living with Lewy Body Dementia.

Born on December 13, 1935, in Livingston, Tennessee, Terry was the son of Burris Eulon Ray and Malinda Jane (Savage) Ray. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. Following his service, he built a long career as a clinical laboratory manager in Ripley, West Virginia, and later in Hilton Head and Walterboro, South Carolina. He married Faye Sondra Perkins in 1958, and together they shared a devoted life rooted in care, humor, and family. Terry was a member of Old Saint Andrew’s Parish Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

Terry was known for his kind, sociable nature and his uncanny ability to make friends wherever he went. He loved telling stories and swapping jokes, and he possessed what could only be called a master-class-level talent for receiving gifts. When he opened a present, his genuine, effusive gratitude made the giver feel they were receiving a gift in return. He loved warm sunshine and long walks. Shaped by his childhood in the Depression-era South, where he witnessed widespread hunger, he carried a lifelong desire to ensure that no one experienced the fear of not knowing where their next meal would come from. Even as Lewy Body Dementia took hold, his mind often turned toward imagined people in need. He loved his pets beyond measure, doting on every dog and the cats he didn’t intend to love but did.

Terry is survived by his sister, Sue Smith (Junior) of Alexandria, IN; his wife of 67 years, Faye Ray of Highlands, NC; his son, Charles Anthony (Tony) Ray (Rochelle) of Tempe, AZ; his daughter, Leigh Ray Hartman (Clay) of Highlands, NC; and his grandson, Luke Hartman of Highlands, NC. He was predeceased by his parents and his five brothers.

Given Terry’s love for animals and his belief that no one should face food insecurity, the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the International Friendship Center and Highlands Food Pantry, or to the Highlands Cashiers Humane Society. The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the staff of the Franklin House for their compassionate care, and to the residents and families who gave Terry a community of belonging in his final years.

May he rest in eternal peace, held in God’s grace and the warmth he so often shared with others.

Online condolences can be made at www.maconfuneralhome.com.

Macon Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.