Individual

Go to List of Family Names Go to List of People    < Previous Next >

Birth:          10 Feb 1916 Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Death:          19 Nov 2003 Worcester, Mass.

Notes
rootsweb
findagrave as Earle Harvey

WORCESTER E. Harvey Rayner, 87, of 6 Friedel Street, died Wednesday, November 
19 in Clark Manor Nursing Home. He leaves his wife of 65 years, Edith M. (Hazen) 
Rayner, a son Lawrence H. Rayner of Melbourne, FL, three daughters, Audrey St. 
Mark of New York City, NY, Carolyn (Candy) K. Short of Waukesha, WI, and Janice L. 
Rayner of Dudley, MA; a sister E. Persis Slayter of Worcester and former foster 
children Robyn J. (Redmond) Karppe of Plant City, FL, Det. Jimm Redmond of Clay 
County, FL, among others who have maintained contact with the family. He leaves 
eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. 

 A brother H. Calhoun and four sisters, Betty P. Rayner, Virginia K. Colebrook, Eleanor 
R. Nylen and Geraldine R. Chase predeceased him. He was born in Prince Edward 
Island, Canada, son of Edith (Knox) and E. H. Rayner. He moved to Worcester in 1922 
and was a graduate of North High School. 

 Harvey Rayner?s career at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette began as a Collector in 
the 1930?s. Later, as a Circulation Manager, he covered branches in Shrewsbury, 
Auburn and Leicester. As a Branch Manager in Worcester, he coached teams of paper 
boys. 

 When Mr. Rayner transferred to the Reporting Staff of the Telegram, he wrote stories 
about the Worcester Tornado of ?53. He covered the Blatnik Committee Hearings in 
Washington, D.C., on corruption in Massachusetts politics. He was credited with 
raising awareness about potential closure of Massachusetts coastlines to the public, 
which resulted in Public Access legislation copied by other states. His stories led to 
the formation of Rutland State Park off Routes 122/122A. He garnered several awards 
including one from the National Council of Churches. In 1963, Rayner moved to the 
Editorial Board of the Telegram, where he reasoned against the Vietnam War, met 
distinguished political figures including Jimmy Carter, and enjoyed a number of 
journalistic challenges until his retirement in 1978. 

 Harvey?s lifelong passion for sports, nature and photography led to many wilderness 
trips in Maine and Alaska. As a member of Central Congregational Church, now United 
Congregational, he coached basketball. He taught Wildlife Nature Photography 
courses in the Worcester Adult Education and Clark University Copace Programs. 
Many of his donated photographs are at the Wildlife Sanctuary of the American 
Audubon Society on Massasoit Road in Worcester. 

 A memorial service will be held at 3 pm Saturday 11/22 in Caswell-King Funeral Home 
474 Grove St. Worcester. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his 
name to the Alzheimers Association, 128 Providence Street, Worcester, MA 01604. 
Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA) — Thursday, November 20, 2003 
1940 in Worcester, Mass. as Earl H. collector newspaper

Parents
RAYNER Elijah Hardy (13 Nov 1880 - 1950)
KNOX Edith Myrtle (8 Dec 1885 - 22 Jul 1954)

Siblings
RAYNER Betty Pauline (23 Jul 1904 - 22 Oct 1999)
RAYNER Hall Calhoun ("Cal") (17 Aug 1905 - 9 Oct 1972)
RAYNER Virginia Knox (30 Jun 1912 - 17 Dec 2000)
RAYNER Eleanor Maude (24 Dec 1914 - 24 Oct 2001)
RAYNER Elijah Harvey ("Harvey") (10 Feb 1916 - 19 Nov 2003)
RAYNER Geraldine Lois (15 Aug 1917 - 28 Jun 1989)
RAYNER Edith Persis ("Persis") (24 Jul 1920 - 24 Apr 2014)

Marriage To HAZEN Edith (30 Jan 1918 - 25 Aug 2011)
    m. 1938 

Notes

Parents
HAZEN George Clinton ()
BENSON Florence Eva ()

Children by HAZEN Edith 30 Jan 1918 - 25 Aug 2011
RAYNER Lawrence Hazen ()
RAYNER Audrey Ann ()
RAYNER Carolyn Knox ("Candy") ()
RAYNER Janice Lee ()

Produced by Fzip 1.7 2/10/2021