Randolph Alexander "Ray" Ashley

Randolph Alexander (Ray) Ashley, Jr., former Tennessee State Attorney General and one of the regal lions of Tennessee's legal community, died Monday afternoon in Memphis, surrounded by his family. He was 84. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 9, at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Dyersburg, Tennessee with the Rev. Joe T. Porter officiating. The family will receive visitors following the service. Curry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Ashley is survived by his wife of 58 years, the former Betty Sue Volz; a sister, Mary Ashley Bickford of Roanoke, Va.; two daughters, Jane Hill (Mark) and Anne Craig Bobo (Kirk); and five grandsons, Estes Folk, Winston Folk, Alexander Folk, Barret Folk and Holman Moores. He was preceded in death by a brother, Barret, and a son, Randy. A native of Dyersburg, Mr. Ashley practiced law in his hometown beginning in 1952 when he joined the family law firm founded by his father in 1903, now known as Ashley, Ashley and Arnold. From 1974-6 he served as Tennessee Attorney General. Mr. Ashley was awarded a football scholarship to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he played and lettered one year before he was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps. After his discharge in 1947 he attended Southwestern College (now Rhodes College) where he graduated before entering law school at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Mr. Ashley was known for mentoring young lawyers and encouraging their interests in consumer affairs and the environment, among other areas. His focus throughout his life was always helping others and he instilled this quality in those young lawyers with whom he came in contact. The attorney general's office under his leadership was instrumental in halting the Tennessee Valley Authority's planned Hartsville nuclear plant upriver of Nashville and the Atomic Energy Commission's proposed Clinch River Breeder Reactor, both on environmental grounds. The office also was instrumental in reforming the Tennessee Claims Commission to make it more consumer-friendly. An avid reader and swimmer, Mr. Ashley also was interested in civic affairs and politics. He was a co-founder and co-owner of Dyersburg's first commercial television station. Ray Ashley lived a life of great accomplishment though he always said his greatest accomplishment was convincing Betty to be his wife. His wife, daughters and grandsons were the joy and pride of his life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials be directed to Matthew 25:40, Inc., 432 West Court Street, Dyersburg, TN 38024 or McIvers Grant Public Library, 204 North Mill St., Dyersburg, TN 38024 or the donor's choice.