Joan M. Raynor of Southampton and Summerfield, Florida, Dies June 30 - 27 East

Joan M. Raynor of Southampton and Summerfield, Florida, Dies June 30

icon 1 Photo
Joan M. Raynor

Joan M. Raynor

authorStaff Writer on Jul 10, 2023

Joan M. Raynor of Southampton and Summerfiled, Florida, died on June 30 after a brief illness. She was 90.

She was born in Brooklyn on June 15, 1933. Although her family lived in Southampton, the long trip was made to the Brooklyn Methodist Hospital for her birth. Reason being that the first born child of Mable Duryea’s nieces were to be born in head nurse Duryea’s obstetrics’ unit.

Raynor was a true child of Southampton. She was among the 11th generation of one of the village’s founding fathers, Thomas Halsey. The oldest of six children born to Ed and Ruth (Duryea) McGurn, she loved the village she grew up in with a passion, her family said, and was always telling people she met where she was from and leaving them with a little bit of Southampton's history, especially after she moved south in her later years. A woman of strong opinion, her family said, she lamented the changes her town went through in her lifetime.

She was a student of history. Not only did she complete an extensive years-long family genealogy report that she had printed and bound for all of her extended family, she knew so much about the history of Southampton as well. An avid reader, she knew her Southampton history well, but her stories of her youth of the people and places in the town were something to hear. She especially was fond of telling the stories of riding around Southampton as a young girl with her grandfather, Fred Duryea, to inspect the masonry projects being performed by his crews. She also loved the beaches, bays and the ocean — and clams on the half shell.

She married Frank Raynor on November 8, 1952 —a marriage that would last 69 years. They met on the sidewalk on Elm Street, not far from her family home. He was on a ride to the “big” town of Southampton with his buddies from Bridgehampton. One of his friends was dating Joan, and they stopped to talk, and the rest is history.

The couple moved to the Raynor family potato farm on Mitchell Lane in Bridgehampton and started a family. After their third child was born, the decision was made to sell the farm and move to Southampton. In 1959, they settled into their home on Meeting House Lane, and two more children were born.

She worked Jobs as she could, one of which was for The Southampton Press, when the printing operation was located on Jobs Lane. Many will remember her from her years working at Southampton Hospital as a dietitian, and later as she worked in real estate. She was also active in the First Presbyterian Church of Southampton and later faithfully attended services at North Lake Presbyterian Church in Lady Lake, Florida.

She was predeceased by her parents, Charles Edward and Ruth Roselie (Duryea) McGurn; daughter Deborah Dalton; sisters Barbara Anderson and Kathy Foster; and brother William McGurn. She is survived by sisters Mable Kovacs and Susan Seymour; sons Charles S. (Marilyn), Daniel (Susan), Steven C. (Amy), and Jon (Katie); grandchildren Charles Dalton, Julia Qualk (Brendon), Carley Raynor, Kelly D’Angelo (Michael), Danielle Raynor, Frank Raynor II, Mark Raynor, William Raynor, and Jason Raynor; great-grandchildren Stella and Luke D’Angelo; many nieces and nephews.

Cremation was private. A memorial service will be held on July 29 at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Southampton, 2 South Main Street, Southampton.

You May Also Like:

East Hampton/Pierson Girls Lacrosse Moves Up to Division I/Class A

It’s a bit of a new dawn for the East Hampton/Pierson girls lacrosse program. After ... 1 Apr 2025 by Drew Budd

South Fork Boys Lacrosse Team Looking To Grow Its Game

This South Fork boys lacrosse team might be young, but the Islanders are already showing ... by Desirée Keegan

King, Klammer Lead Solid Westhampton Girls Lacrosse Team to 14-10 Win Over Ward Melville

The Westhampton Beach girls lacrosse team took away a lot of positives from a 14-10 ... by Desirée Keegan

Westhampton Beach Boys Lacrosse Team Shuts Out South Fork With 16-0 Win

The Westhampton Beach boys lacrosse team made a statement with its season-opening win against South ... by Desirée Keegan

Despite Move Up to Class C, Bees Expect To Reach Third Straight Regional Final, Maybe Even Further

The Bridgehampton/Ross baseball team lost to Chapel Field in the Class D Regional Final for ... by Drew Budd

Returning Talent, Strong Leadership Should Keep Southampton's Softball Team Competitive

Frank Amitrano said for the first time in years he thinks the Southampton softball team ... by Desirée Keegan

Hampton Bays Girls Lacrosse Continues To Move in Positive Direction

The Hampton Bays girls lacrosse program is expanding. For the first time ever, the Baymen ... by Drew Budd

Seniors Will Try To Lead Southampton Girls Lacrosse to Multiple Wins This Season

With a over a dozen seniors in tow, the Southampton girls lacrosse team will be ... by Drew Budd

It Won’t Be Easy, but Pierson Baseball Expects To Have Shot at County Championship

Despite graduating eight seniors from last year’s team, which reached the Class C Regional Final, ... by Drew Budd

Epley Expecting Big Things From His Southampton Baseball Squad This Spring

What do teams do when they have high aspirations going into a season? They head ... by Drew Budd