Ferris James Traylor

Ferris James Traylor, 53, of Lafayette, Ind., passed away at Home Hospital in Lafayette on Thursday, July 26, 2007, after a courageous four-month fight with mestatic melanoma. Born Nov. 27, 1953, in Evansville, he was the son of the late Ferris Edgar Traylor and the late Mary Vaughan Traylor.

He attended Evansville Day School and graduated from Georgetown Preparatory High School in Bethesda, Md., in 1972. He earned his B.S. in Industrial Management from Purdue University in 1976. After attending Penn State School of Mining, he returned to Evansville and began a career in coal mining and real estate development. In 1984, Ferris moved to Miami, and began a new career in the restaurant and bar industry.

In 1990, Ferris came to West Lafayette, Ind., and joined Harry's Chocolate Shop, Inc. in corporate management and development. During the past 17 years, he continued to be an integral part of management and the day-to-day operations of Harry's Chocolate Shop, The Other Pub and The Wabash Yacht Club.

He enjoyed his travels to Miami, the Florida Keys, Las Vegas and the Caribbean. He was an excellent golfer, voracious reader, an avid fisherman and gourmet cook. He cherished family love and loyalty above all. His sense of humor and intelligence will be missed by many: friends, family and those with whom he worked. He is survived by one brother, Charles Vaughan Traylor of Indianapolis; and three sisters, Mary Traylor Cook (husband, Herschel E. Cook II) of Lafayette, Marjorie Traylor Roberts (husband, Randy W. Roberts) of Lafayette, and Irene Traylor Bustamante (husband, Eduardo R. Bustamante) of Miami.

Also surviving are four nephews, John Rickman Traylor, Charles Ferris Traylor, Eduardo Rodrigo Bustamante and Ferris James Bustamante; four nieces, Ashley Traylor Walters, Madeleine Mary Bustamante, Alison MacKenzie Roberts and Kelly Rankin Roberts; five aunts, Marjorie Vaughan Price, Jeanne Wilson Vaughan, Tudy Golden Vaughan, Colleen Vaughan Hopkins and Irene Traylor Ritter; three uncles, Jack Nicholas Vaughan, Charles Reifers Vaughan and William Thomas Hopkins; and many beloved cousins.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel, 400 Twyckenham Blvd., Lafayette. Rosary will be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Memorial Mass 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Mary Cathedral, 1207 Columbia St., Lafayette, IN. Father Phil Bowers officiating. Interment in St. Mary Cemetery in Lafayette.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Diabetes Research Institute at University of Miami, care of DRI Foundation, 3440 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 100, Hollywood, FL 33021.