James “Jim” Richard Traylor, 80, of Montgomery, IN passed away peacefully on Monday, April 14, 2025, at The Villages of Oak Ridge.
He was born in Washington, Indiana on January 8, 1945, a son of the late Bennie and Pauline (Tewell) Traylor.
Jim graduated from Montgomery High School with the class of 1963. Shortly thereafter he married his high school sweetheart, Helen (Wathen) Traylor and they were married just shy of 60 years.
Jim began working at an early age for his brother, Joe, in what would eventually become Traylor Fertilizer Service and Traylor Trucking. During Jim’s 45 years at the family business he was active in farming, towing, hauling, field application, sales, and management. As the business grew Jim later became the company’s hauling fleet manager. Jim was an active member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, their Mens’ Club, and the Montgomery Ruritan Club. He was an energetic fundraiser for the Autism Advocates of Indiana. Jim loved spending time with his family, watching Barr-Reeve Viking volleyball, basketball, golf, tennis, many little league games, and Roncalli Rebel swimming, track, and cross country events, especially when it involved his children, and most especially his grandchildren. Throughout Jim’s life he served on the Barr-Reeve Community school board and was a member of the Daviess County Sheriff’s Merit Board. Jim loved his family and will be remembered for his warm and caring personality. He was a man of God and had a servant’s heart in all he did.
Jim is survived by his wife, Helen, two children; Kelly (Casey) Strange of Indianapolis, IN, Brad (Jana) Traylor of Washington, IN. He has four grandchildren: Mary Clair and Kathryn (Kelly) and Alexis and Levi (Brad). He is survived by his brother Joseph Traylor, Montgomery, IN. In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his siblings and their spouses, Ed and Doris Traylor, Loogootee, IN, Anna Lou and Alan Myers, Washington, IN, and Gladys Traylor, Montgomery, IN.
Visitation will be on Monday, April 21st from 4-7 p.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church with a rosary being said at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue on April 22nd at 9:30 a.m. up until a Mass of Christian burial celebration at 11:00 a.m. at St. Catholic Peter’s Catholic Church, Montgomery, IN with burial immediately following at St. Peter’s Cemetery. Celebrants will be Father Steve McGinnis and Deacon Keith Hart.
In lieu of flowers, family welcomes mass offerings or suggested tax deductible recipients reflecting aspects of Jim’s life:
*The Barr-Reeve Scholarship Foundation: P.O. Box 25, Montgomery, IN 47558, https://tinyurl.com/epxb49uh
*St. Peter’s Cemetery, P.O. Box 10, Montgomery, IN 47558
* The Kendall Murphy Promise Scholarship, 627 N. 3rd Street, Montgomery, IN 47558
Online condolences can be made at www.blakefuneralhomes.com
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Blake and Wagler Funeral Home, Montgomery, IN 47558.
