Tony Ray Warner

Tony Ray Warner, husband, father, and educator, passed peacefully in his sleep on Monday, February 3, 2025, at his home in Greer, SC after a 16-year battle with cancer. Tony was a devoted husband to Carla Elizabeth Rahn Warner, his wife of 51 years, and a loving father to Mia Beth Warner Wiseman – a role that became the joy of Tony’s life.

Tony was known to his family and friends for his “Tonyisms” — a sharp sense of humor and love of playing practical jokes. He was an avid reader of science fiction, a gardener with a green thumb, a bird watcher, and collector of antique silver plates and maps. Where others saw junk, Tony saw treasure. Preceding Tony in death are his parents, Othella P. Warner and Doyle T. Warner, his brother Tom Gene Warner, and his niece Lauren Elizabeth Abramson. Tony is survived by his wife, Carla, his daughter, Mia, his son-in-law Alex Wiseman, his nephews William Abramson and Patrick Warner, and his niece Kelly Warner Yeomans.

Tony was proud of his long career at East Tennessee State University, beginning in 1985 until his retirement in September of 2015. Tony was involved in many aspects of ETSU life and in professional organizations such as the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA). He loved college life so much he decided to make a career of it, earning his BS Degree in Business at Oklahoma State University, followed by an MA in Student Personnel & Guidance culminating in earning his Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration at ETSU. Equally adept at working with both the business and student sides of university administration, Tony positively impacted the lives of many students and colleagues during his 30 years at ETSU. Outside of campus life, he served several terms on the Board of the Johnson City Public Library and held leadership roles in numerous community and professional organizations throughout his life. He earned awards and honors too numerous to list. If you were fortunate to know Tony, your life was better for it. He will be dearly missed.

Monte Vista Funeral Home & Memorial Park in Johnson City, Tennessee are serving the family and will be Tony’s final resting place. The date and location for a service to take place in Johnson City, honoring Tony’s life, will be determined and announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Johnson City Public Library www.jcpl.org.