Richard Rayner

A native of Fort Collins, Richard, nickname Dick, was born at the then-Larimer County Hospital in Fort Collins to parents Elizabeth and Olin Rayner. Dick fondly remembered the family home where he and his three older siblings lived on Mountain Avenue, followed by teenage years, after the early passing of his father, at their home on Smith Street. His early enterprises included raising backyard chickens and delivering copies on his bicycle of the Fort Collins Express-Courier.

After graduating from Fort Collins High School, Dick attended Colorado A&M (now CSU). He majored in English, participating in theater and forestry clubs, and most importantly met the love of his life, Margaret Jane (Janie) Baird, whom he married after they both graduated. For almost 75 years they heard and tolerated all the “Dick and Jane” jokes, and while they owned several dogs, they named none of them Spot. Dick’s big sister Ethel married Kenneth (Ash or Ken) Ashley, a veteran attending Colorado A&M. Ken became an important father figure and mentor to Dick, who followed him first into the US military and later into his career with the US National Park Service (NPS). Following his few years in the Navy as an aircraft controller, Dick joined Ken and Ethel in Yosemite National Park attending an entrance station and patrolling roads, even while riding a bicycle. Janie joined Dick in Yosemite and together through the years they transferred with their growing family to nine different units of the NPS, from south Florida to Hawaii and many parks in between. Dick developed a love of flying while in the Navy and earned his private pilot’s license while stationed at the Grand Canyon. He would later hold a Department of the Interior pilot’s license and use his own small plane to frequently travel and patrol remote areas in Death Valley National Park. At one point it was said that Dick was the oldest actively flying private pilot in Colorado. Dick passed on his love of flying to his son and his love of working for the NPS to his daughter and granddaughter.

Dick retired from the National Park Service and returned to his home town of Fort Collins where he and Janie built their first home and then later a cabin in the Rocky Mountains. Dick served for many years on the board of the Poudre Valley Fire Protection District, the board of their mountain property HOA, and as the irrigation captain for their development’s HOA. He also served as manager of the Fort-Collins Loveland Airport for several years.

When Dick retired for the second time and following Janie’s retirement, they enjoyed traveling with their church group to Europe, Asia, Scandinavia, and the Middle East. Dick spent afternoons helping care for their young grandchildren that thankfully lived close by. They also spent many days at their mountain property enjoying nature. Dick always felt at peace in the natural world and in his later years when he was no longer able to travel, being outside brought him solace.

Dick died just two and a half months before the love of his life, Janie. They are survived by their children Bruce (Tracè), Lisa (Garry), Cheryl (Eric), and grandchildren Gretchen, Niclas, Eli, Meghan, Jade, Issi, Maya, and Kestrel as well as great-grandchildren Bryce, Hugo, Jonas and Iris. 

Memorial donations may be sent to Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire District or Museum of the National Park Ranger.