Obituary

Melissa J. Traylor was born on December 26, 1967, to Elsie and Robert Pavel. She passed away unexpectedly on September 5, 2024, at the age of fifty-six. Melissa was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and was a graduate of Abramson Senior High School, class of 1985. She would later move to Bellingham, Washington in 2017, where she would end up meeting her partner Dwaine.

Melissa was adventurous, loving, kind, dedicated, funny, and compassionate. She found joy in exploring the Pacific Northwest with her partner, Dwaine. Her hobbies were painting, bird watching, and cooking. Her dedication to family was evident in the hours spent playing board games, cooking for her loved ones, and creating memories that will always be close to her heart. One of the memories that her family will always have of her was, that she was always kind and supportive to anyone in her life, especially her children and her grandsons.

Melissa is survived by her partner, Dwaine Thorton; her daughter, Melaine Traylor; her grandchildren, Eli, and Michael Benoit; her niece and nephew, Rachel Pecora and Evan Loibl; and her aunt and uncle, Larry, and Sue Hertzog. She is pre-deceased by her parents, Robert, and Elsie Pavel; her son, Jeremy Traylor; and her sister, Mary Loibl.

A large group of extended family and friends will remember her. She will be missed, but her love, joy and memories will forever remain with all the people that knew her.