Rayner, Edward, Douglas, 89, of Barrington, died at the Hattie Ide Chaffee Home, East Providence, on January 18, 2010 of complications following a fall at home in September. He was the beloved husband of Helen (McCarthy) Rayner.

Born on April 29, 1920, in Winthrop, MA, a son of the late Francis P. Rayner and Carolyn (Douglas) Rayner, he lived in Barrington for seventy years.

During World War II, Doug worked at Crown Fastener in Warren in support of the war effort. He was self employed in his own carper installation, repair and sales business for 30 years.

After moving to Barrington as a young man, Doug hunted, fished and trapped in the area and as a result became interested in the natural environment. Appointed to the Barrington Conservation Commission in the 1970’s he was on the Commission when it resigned enmasse in protest of the towns decision to broadcast pesticides to control mosquitoes. Later he became chairmen of the Barrington Mosquito Control Board.

He was on the Board of Directors of the Barrington Land Conservation until 1998. His primary objective was to preserve the marshes and upland buffers of the Palmer and Barrington Rivers, Nockum Hill and Hundred Acre Cove. He was active in protecting RI endangered diamond back terrapin and documenting their nesting habits. The area at Nockum Hill was designated the, ‘Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge,’ by the Town of Barrington in 2000.

Doug was active in the Runnins River Task Force leading to the creation of the Pokanoket Watershed Alliance, gathering water samples and doing the lab work for Fecal Coliform as there were no funds for these tests.

He was involved in monitoring and testing of the Mobil Corporation cleanup of the leaded gasoline spill first discovered along the Runnins River in 1993 resulting in DEM negotiating a multi-million dollar settlement to remedy the problem.

Doug was an active member of the Bar-Zap organization and lead many field trips for elementary school children as well as hands on demonstration in the classroom. He was an advisor to Boy Scout Troops for fishing and outdoor badges and candidates for Eagle Scout. Among his prized possessions are the thank you notes from the elementary school children and their humorous reactions to baby terrapin.

Among his many awards are Environmental Leadership award, given by the New England Environmental Network Conference, Save the Bay Award for commitment to Hundred Acre Cove and the Runnins River, USEPA Region 1 Environment Award Municipal Land and Resource Management award given by URI Cooperative Extension with the RI Division of Planning, the Rhode Island Natural History Award and honorary member of the Barrington Garden Club.

Besides his wife of 60 years, he is survived by sons; Michael of Barrington, Douglas and partner Mark Miller of San Francisco, CA, James of Barrington and his dear friend; Anne Kesner of Riverside, a daughter; Susan and her husband Raymond Budge of Framingham, MA, dear grandfather of; Nathan D. (Chelsea) of Tucson, AZ and Joan and Michael of Barrington, step-grandfather of; Cassie Budge of MA, great grandfather of; Peyton and Nathan, Jr. and six nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Charles Reyner.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday January 30, 2010 in the W. RAYMOND WATSON FUNERAL HOME, 350 Willett Avenue, Riverside at 2 pm. Burial will be held in Forest Chapel Cemetery.

Flowers are respectfully omitted. Contributions in Doug’s memory to the Barrington Land Conservation Trust, PO Box 324, Barrington, RI, 02806 or the Hattie Ide Chaffee Home, (Employee Fund), 200 Wampanoag Trial, East Providence, RI 02915 would be deeply appreciated.