Kenneth (Kenny) E. Traylor, 84, of Hillsboro died Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at 12:48 a.m. in Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
A memorial service for Mr. Traylor will be held this Saturday, May 26, at 3 p.m. in the Bass Patton Dean Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Rev. Harry Kirk will officiate. Cremation rites were accorded, and a private family burial will be held at a later date in Wares Grove Cemetery, rural Hillsboro. Memorial visitation will begin at noon Saturday at the funeral home.
Mr. Traylor was born on Dec. 5, 1933, in Van Burensburg to Samuel Baxter and Myrtle Esta (Koontz) Traylor.
He and Deanna May were married on Sept. 21, 1957, in Coffeen, and she survives in Hillsboro. Also surviving are one daughter, Tanja Goad (husband John Ostermann) of Taylor Springs; one son, Craig Traylor of Nokomis; three grandchildren, Ty (wife Maria) Goad of South Bend, IN, Toby Goad of Taylor Springs, and Ashley Traylor of Jacksonville; six great-grandchildren, Ryan, Landin, Keaton, Syrus, Malia, and Elijah; and two brothers, Dale Traylor of Litchfield and Gary Traylor of Springfield.
Preceding him in death were three brothers, Marvin, Murl, and Earl Traylor.
Mr. Traylor was an Air Force veteran who served during the Korean Conflict. A graduate of Hillsboro High School, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from SIUC. Professionally he was a schoolteacher and a basketball coach; he also owned and operated T's Tap and Traylor's Pest Control.
Within the community he helped start the Girls' Softball Association in Hillsboro and coached basketball and Little League baseball. He was an avid golfer, a member of the Jaycees, where he was past president; a member of the Hillsboro Moose Club #1377, for which he was a past treasurer, and he once played baseball for the Martin Oilers in Carbondale and fastpitch softball with the Coffeen Road Runners.
Memorials can be directed to the Hillsboro Sports Association, and condolences may be submitted online at basspattondeanfh.com.
