Elizabeth Gaylord Raynor of Manorville, Eastport, and Sodus, New York, died on March 24 at the Kanas Center for Hospice Care on Quiogue. She was 73
She was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in December of 2022. She faced her illness courageously, despite a bleak prognosis, and undertook the surgeries and treatments with characteristic grace and equanimity. Her gentle demeanor, her love of life and of the beauty she found in the world around her helped to sustain her during her valiant fight.
She was born in Buffalo, on July 14, 1950, to Charles William and Ruth Osgood Gaylord and grew up in Williamsville, New York, graduating from Williamsville High School. She attended SUNY Oswego, where she met the love of her life, Jonathan Raynor. They were married in the Sodus Presbyterian Church on August 25, 1973.
She earned a master’s degree in education and had a distinguished career as an elementary school teacher for 32 years. She taught third, fourth, and fifth grades for 31 years at the Eastport Elementary School, during which her firm but easy-going manner, subtle sense of humor, and fierce devotion to doing what was right for her pupils earned her the respect and admiration of her students, their parents, her colleagues, and influenced several generations of the Eastport community.
She was an avid reader. An appreciation for reading was something that she took pride in passing along to children. She had a vast knowledge of children’s literature. Nothing made her happier as an educator than helping a student find just the right book, no matter whether he or she was a struggling reader or one who was more advanced. Her love of children, combined with her belief that each one had something to be discovered, explored, and encouraged, made her an inspirational guide for her students. Just as she looked for and found the potential in her students, she sought out the good side in people and life’s challenging situations, always stressing the positive.
After her retirement from the classroom, she served for many years as the costume designer and the scenic artist for the productions of the Eastport-South Manor theater program, in which she influenced and inspired many secondary school students. She quietly passed along her appreciation for the arts as well as her work ethic, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
She was a charter member of the Manorville Historical Society. She served as a member of the West Manor School District Board of Education before being elected as its first female president.
She enjoyed reading, walking, antiquing, photography, calligraphy, gardening, history, and restoration of old houses and structures. She was an accomplished watercolorist. Many of her paintings reflect her special appreciation of the effects of time and nature on man-made objects. Her work has been exhibited in a number of juried art shows, including those sponsored by the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, the Niagara Frontier Art Society, the New York State Fair, the Hudson Valley Art Association, the American Pen Women, the Long Island Arts Council, and the Salmagundi Club in New York City.
She is survived by her husband of over 50 years, Jonathan; their sons Nathaniel Robert (Marybeth), and Clinton William (Elizabeth); her grandchildren Owen and Charlotte; sisters Brenda Hameister (Dennis) and Margaret Culkowski (Justin); brother William Gaylord (Jennifer); sisters-in-law Deborah Johnson (Ken) and Samantha Raynor (Randel); nieces Kristin Naiko (Dave), Gayle Baldwin (Newland), Sarah Gaylord, and Ellie Gaylord; nephews John Culkowski (Tomoko), Jackson Gaylord, Will Gaylord, and Sam Gaylord; grand-nieces and nephews Veronica and Andrew Naiko; Charles, Eleanor and Henry Baldwin; and Max and Alex Culkowski.
To honor her memory and to celebrate her life, there will be an exhibition of her paintings on Saturday, October 26, from 1-4 p.m. at Gallery 90 in Center Moriches. The exhibit will remain on display during regular gallery hours through November 3. Donations in honor of her memory may be made to the Ketcham Inn Foundation, the Center Moriches Library, or East End Hospice.
Staff Writer on Oct 1, 2024