Charles “Ed” Edward Traylor, 79, of Atwater, died Oct. 22, 2023, in Louisiana, in a fishing trip boating accident.
A visitation for Mr. Traylor will be held on Monday, Oct. 30, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church in Farmersville. A funeral mass will follow at 12 p.m. on Monday with Fr. Florent Kanga officiating. Hough Memorial Home in Farmersville is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Traylor was born on Aug. 22, 1944 to his parents Lee and Betty (Nemeth) Traylor in Springfield. He married Pat McAnarney, the love of his life, on July 25, 1964 and together they had two girls, Lori and Angie.
Mr. Traylor grew up in Girard, graduating from Girard High School. He went on to earn his B.A. in social justice from Sangamon State University in Springfield and later graduated from the F.B.I. National Academy in Quantico, VA, before making Carlinville home.
Mr. Traylor was able to retire in 1996 with the rank of captain after 29 years of service with the Illinois State Police. Throughout those years of dedication to his career,Mr. Traylor served as patrolman, investigator, investigative supervisor, bureau chief and staff officer. Though retired,Mr. Traylor later served as police chief of Carlinville Police Department, and in 2000, was hired by the Macoupin County Probation Department. Later that same year, he was hired by the state police as a contractual investigator for the Federal Health Care Fraud Task Force under the Department of Justice. He retired from there in June of 2009.
He enjoyed his retirement, filling it by spending time with his family, going on fishing trips with friends, watching his grandchildren blossom into the young adults they are and eventually enjoying his passion of becoming an author. He wrote his first novel, The Crossing, in 2015. This book was cited by the Public Safety Writers Association 2015 Writing Competition in the non-published fiction category. Mr. Traylor later wrote his second novel, Choices, in 2020. He was very proud and passionate about the novels he wrote. He was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), NRA and the Republican Party.
Mr. Traylor is survived by his wife, Pat Traylor; daughters Lori (Kyle Wilson) Traylor of Dallas, TX, and Angie Traylor of Atwater; “son” Gary Foster of Virden; grandchildren Kelsey and Luke Hickman; brothers Rick Nemeth of California and Mike Nemeth of Idaho; and several nieces, nephews and friends. He was a beloved husband, father, grandpa and friend to many.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister Dorthea Anderson; and a brother Gary Nemeth.
Memorials in Mr. Traylor’s honor may be made out to the Salvation Army. Condolences can be left online at houghfuneralhome.com
