Noel John Rayner

JOHN RAYNER was born December 23, 1939, at St Mary's hospital in Enid, Oklahoma to Wilbur and Opal Rayner. He was the youngest of four children. They were all raised on the family farm south of Wakita.

John graduated from Wakita high School in 1958 and went to business college soon after. He married Wilma Jayne Collier of Enid in February of 1960. Soon they welcomed their first child Carrie and her brother Jeffrey 2 years later.

John moved his family from Enid to Green River Wyoming looking for new opportunities. He sold houses for Northwest homes until he went to work as an engineer for Bechtel at the Jim Bridger power plant. He finished his career with Bechtel in San Francisco retiring in 2006, returning to the farm he had grown up on. Being home gave him the opportunity to watch his nephew's children grow up and to be surrounded by all the animals he loved. While retired he volunteered for the Hawley Fire Department.

He was an attentive father who traveled on weekends for his children's summer swim meets. He spent winters snowmobiling with the family and summers he would invite Opal and Wilbur and family for camping and fishing deep into the Wyoming wilderness. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman, there was always wild meat in the freezer.

John is survived by his two children, Carrie Diane Rayner of Newport Beach, California, son Jeffrey Allen Rayner of Enid, Oklahoma, grandson Cory Allen Rayner of Enid, Oklahoma and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Wilma and brothers Wesley and Lynden, and sister Karen.

Donations may be made to the Hawley Fire Department or the Enid SPCA.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, April 5th, at 2:00 P.M. at the Christian Church of Nash, with Pastor Matt Watkins officiating. Graveside service and interment will follow at New Home Cemetery, Nash. Arrangements by Wilson Funeral Home, Pond Creek, OK.