John Raynor

John Raynor
June 26, 2025
John Charles Raynor (1934-2025) of Wasilla, Alaska passed away peacefully in Sequim, Washington on June 26, 2025 with his wife Judy, son Richard, daughter Sanci and son in law JP by his side.
John was born 1934 in Tacoma, Washington to Reuben Benjamin Raynor and Irma Bertha Raitz. He attended Jason Lee Jr. Middle School and Stadium High School in Tacoma, and upon graduation John got his first taste of the U.S. Forest Service as a fire lookout at High Rock lookout in the Snoqualmie National Forest. While attending the University of Washington for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry, John worked with the U.S. Forest Service doing campground maintenance & fire guard duties, and later insect surveying in both Oregon and Washington. Upon graduation from UW in 1957, he continued working with the Forest Service in the Northwest as a field engineer.
Following the maritime example of his mentor Uncle Johnny who was a U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer, John joined the U.S. Coast Guard and attended the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut where he received an officer commission. He was assigned to the Cutter Bittersweet in Kodiak, where he fell in love with Alaska while doing Law Enforcement and search & rescue. After his tour of duty on the Cutter Bittersweet he was transferred to the Marine Safety Office Portland Oregon as the Executive Officer.
After completing his military service commitment, he continued serving in the Coast Guard reserve and returned to the U.S. Forest Service when offered a full-time position in Ketchikan, Alaska, where he worked in timber sales and fire management. He was soon transferred to Sitka, Alaska specializing in campgrounds, wildlife and fire management. While stationed in Sitka, John was selected to guide an archeologist from England on a hike up into Mount Edgecumbe crater on Kruzof Island. Soon after, he was transferred to the Juneau Ranger District and assigned to a position in timber management. His next assignment was to Anchorage where he handled many challenging duties including special assignments. One of which allowed John to meet the Emperor and Empress of Japan. With a timely promotion he was able to return to Juneau for a position in timber management and was responsible for standing up the first Coast Guard Reserve Unit in Alaska. This is when John met Judy and Sanci and made Juneau his home for 20 plus years.
In 2000, John and Judy relocated to the scenic beauty of their estate in the Cottonwood Lakes area near Wasilla, Alaska. For the next 25 years they enjoyed wonderful neighbors and built an apple orchard, berry patch, a Matanuska Valley quality vegetable garden and many flower beds. Their annual March trip south on the Alcan highway to visit friends and family in Oregon and Washington created chapters of stories in their journal of life and was one of their favorite things to look forward to as Spring was arriving.
John was always active with his children's lives, school functions and hobbies. He also had his own hobbies of distance running, sailing, gardening, target shooting, fishing and hunting. He authored several articles for the Alaska Sportsman Magazine and was a member of the Society of American Foresters for over 50 years. But most of all John will be remembered for his positive spirit and kindness towards others.
John is affectionately remembered by his wife Judy Anne Raynor, four children, John Richard Raynor (wife Connie), Peter Benjamin Raynor (wife Frances), Ted Eugene Raynor, Sanci Marie Raynor (husband JP), his brother Richard Raynor (wife Dorothy), three grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
He will be laid to rest at Fort Richardson National Cemetery in Anchorage, Alaska.
Memorial contributions can be made to:
Clallam County Volunteer Hospice.
829 E. 8th St.
Port Angeles, WA. 98362.
360-452-1511, ex 6.