Tributes

Rest in Peace, Roger! Roger Louis Traylor of Albany, Oregon passed away peacefully on October 8, 2024 at Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis, OR. Roger fell ill very suddenly in the early hours of October 7th and was diagnosed with a critical infection. Both the ER staff and ICU staff gave valiant efforts to help him recover, but his body was unable to overcome the infection. With his hospital bed facing the beautiful outdoors that he loved and with his family by his side, Roger passed peacefully. Roger was born in Knoxville, TN on September 1, 1957 and was welcomed by his parents, Marion and Mary Traylor and his big sister, Rhonda. Roger grew up in the utopic little town of Norris, TN where he enjoyed the freedom to roam the woods, fish and explore. Roger had many interests. As a teenager, he started his first organic garden. He joined his father in becoming a HAM radio operator, raced motocross, water skied, rock climbed and hiked many sections of the Appalachian Trail. As a boy, Roger loved batteries and wires and figuring out how things worked. He knew from a young age that he wanted to be an electrical engineer. Roger attended Norris High School where he met his future wife, Jane Worthington. After a first date in the Spring of their Senior year in 1975, they both soon knew they were meant to be together and began what turned into a 5-year courtship. Roger earned his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, TN. He and Jane were married on June 7, 1980. Following Roger’s graduation, they moved to Massachusetts for his first job at GTE. After four years, Roger and Jane moved across the country to Corvallis, OR for Roger to pursue a Master’s degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering from Oregon State University. Following his graduation, Roger and Jane moved to Hillsboro, OR, where Roger began a 10-year career at Intel. Soon after moving, Roger and Jane welcomed their first-born son, Andrew in 1988. Three years later, they welcomed their second son, William. Their family was complete when little sister, Emily, joined the family in 1994. While Roger loved the challenging work at Intel, he wanted to spend more time with his young family and took a job in the Electrical Engineering Department at Oregon State University, where he began his teaching career as an Instructor. Roger spent the rest of his career helping to mold and develop his students into great engineers and quality human beings. He cared about them as a whole. Roger left a legacy at OSU during his time there. While he would never tout his success, Roger won numerous awards over the years. The ones most important to him were those voted on by the students. Roger continued many of his early hobbies throughout his life. He loved gardening, HAM radio, especially the Summit on the Air (SOTA) excursions he did with Jane, hiking, rock climbing, fishing and hunting. For many years, he was a triathlete. Roger loved anything outdoors and passed that along to his children. He also had a broad taste in music and could sing the lyrics to many songs. Roger is survived by his wife, Jane Worthington Traylor, and his children: Andrew and wife, Corie; William and wife, Anna; Emily and husband, Simon Batenhorst. He is also survived by his sister, Rhonda Traylor, and cousin, Ray Sindersine, Jr. Roger was predeceased by his parents, Mary Sindersine Traylor and Marion H. Traylor, Jr. He had three “honorary” grandchildren that he cherished: John, Makaylah, and Josiah Harris. Roger had many “brothers” that he loved deeply: Dan Harton, Eric Fields, David Harvey, Doug Worthington and Steve Bittner. Roger was a true hero and example in many ways. He valiantly fought cancer twice and battled through a bone marrow transplant in 2017 and endured the subsequent effects. He never gave up and had a strong will to live. Roger’s greatest desire was to leave a legacy to his children and his students, and he completed that goal with great success. Roger’s faith in God was his foundation. He lived his faith until the end. The family would like to say a special thank you to Roger’s beloved, Dr. Jessica Leonard and the multitude of nurses on 14K at OHSU that cared for him during his transplant, but especially, Annie and Caleb. The family also extends a heartfelt thanks to Roger’s doctor, Eric Sharp, and to the doctors and nurses at Samaritan Corvallis, both in the ER and ICU, who fought so hard to save Roger and to make him comfortable. Lastly, we give a special thanks to Roger and Jane’s pastor, Ben Clarke, for his gentle and caring love during Roger’s last day. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations are made in Roger's honor. Donations can be made to: Greenbelt Land Trust, honoring Roger’s love of the outdoors - https://greenbeltlandtrust.org/donate/ Contribute to a Commemorative Bench in Roger's memory - https://gofund.me/33f1f264 A Celebration of Life will be held at the Officer’s Club, 6097 NE Ebony Ln., Corvallis, OR 97330, on November 3rd at 2 pm. Please share your thoughts and memories for the family at www.McHenryFuneralHome.com.

Tributes

Roger Louis Traylor

September 1, 1957 - October 8, 2024