Ray was born in Concord, NC, in 1931, the son of textile workers Hilary Eugene Nanney and Mary Ann Christie Nanney. He worked his way through UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating with a BS in Chemistry in 1953. A few weeks before his graduation, Ray met his future wife, Lib, at a Fourth of July church picnic, and they talked for hours. The two knew within a week that they were meant to be together, and six months later were married in a small, family ceremony at the same church at which they had met. After graduation, Ray worked as a chemist at Dupont until he was drafted into the army, where he served in the elite Counter Intelligence Corp. After his service, he used the G.I. Bill to earn a Ph. D. in physical chemistry at the University of South Carolina.
As a teaching assistant at USC, Ray discovered his gift for teaching. His entire teaching career of 41 years, which began in 1960, was spent at Furman University in Greenville, SC, at which he taught Chemistry for seven years before becoming fascinated with computer science. In 1967, he taught Furman’s first computer science courses and went on to found the Computer Science Department as well as serving as the university’s first Computer Center Director until 1973. During his years at Furman, Ray received the Alester G. Furman, Jr., and Janie Earle Furman Award for Meritorious Teaching in 1981 and was Furman’s first professor awarded the Herman H. Hipp Endowed Chair. He also chaired the Computer Science Department until 1986. Ray was a gifted professor and mentor and wrote numerous textbooks in computer science as well as one in chemistry.
After his beloved Lib’s death, Ray became interested in attending concerts, flower gardening, trying new restaurants, and shopping. He shopped incessantly with his daughter, Lynn, or with one of his caregivers, and he had great taste. Ray’s wicked sense of humor emerged as well, and if you were drinking coffee with him, you knew not to sip a mouthful when Ray got that smirk on his face. He continued to work out at the Furman gym after Lib’s death, eventually putting in a mini-gym in his basement. As a good friend commented, Ray was inclusive, warm, gentle, and had a very calming presence. He was a delight to be with, even during his years with Alzheimer’s.
Ray leaves behind a daughter and son-in-law, Lynn and Mark Roosevelt, a son, David (widower of Carolyn), a grandson, Wesley Nanney and his wife, Lisa, and several great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Glenn, and two nephews, Glenn Jr. and his wife, Michelle, and Ken and his wife, Lynn, and their children.
Special thanks go to devoted friends Anna and Brad Hilgeman, Anna’s mother, Runnie Hall, Terry Davis, Stacy and Sonia McAbee, Sharon Soh, and close friends and Lib’s cousins, Doug and Jill Sessoms. We have great gratitude for Angie Conway, who was a loving, constant presence in Ray’s last two years, and we appreciate the last four years of care from the staff and caregivers at the Cascades Verdae and Livelong Wellcare. The staff at Heartland Hospice was instrumental to Ray’s health in his final two and a half years. Meghan Socko of Geriatric Resources gave much professional advice in the last five years of Ray’s life, and we also thank close friends and total strangers for their support over the course of Ray’s dementia progression.
Ray was adamant that no service be held, and the family is honoring his wishes. Donations may be made to Furman University in any of the following areas: the T. Ray Nanney Computer Science Scholarship, the Nanney Fund for Internships and Research, or the Lib Nanney Endowment in Psychology.
And in celebrating Ray, be kind to everyone.
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