Anita Rebecca (Ray) Stanley

Anita Rebecca (Ray) Stanley, of Mount Airy, joined the Lord on Monday, August 2, 2010, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Ann was born in Troy on the 9th of November, 1954, but grew up in Greensboro and graduated from Smith High School in 1973. Ann worked in various jobs within the banking and finance industry with her last job as a human resources specialist at Sawyers Sign Service in Mount Airy. Ann was a very beautiful, gentle, and kind person that kept an immaculate home. She had a lifelong love for animals and took in a stray cat (Boo) that stayed by her side throughout her battle with cancer. She also adopted a cat (Rudy) from an animal shelter which was also a great joy in her life. Ann was a lifelong Christian woman and had a very strong faith in God. Her faith gave her the strength to fight cancer and she read her Bible daily until her sight failed her toward the end of her life. Ann was preceded in death by her father, Harvey Lee Ray, Sr.; and a brother, Harvey Lee Ray, Jr. Ann is survived by her husband, Alvis; her son, Steven Daniel Oates of Austin, TX; her mother, Rebecca Gladys Davis of Mount Airy; and her mother-in-Law, Kathleen Greer Stanley of Mount Airy. Ann has many family members and friends that demonstrated their love for Ann by their many kind gestures of support and offerings of food, flowers, cards, calls, visits, etc. The Mountain Valley Hospice staff showed great kindness, care, and concern for Ann during the final weeks of her life. The many medical and personal services the staff provided were a great comfort to Ann and the family during this difficult time. The family asks in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Mountain Valley Hospice, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, NC 27030 so they may continue to provide this level of care to other patients at the end of their lives. Visitation will be held at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy on Wednesday, August 4, 2010, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. A graveside service will be held Thursday, August 5, 2010, at 2:00 PM at the cemetery of the United Methodist Church of Ether.