William "Ed" McBrayer

William Edman "Ed" McBrayer, 85, of Wabash, Indiana, formerly of Morehead, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 27, 2025. Born December 10, 1939, in Morehead, Kentucky, Ed was the son of Harvey and Anna (Perkins) McBrayer.
Ed retired from Wabash Alloys after a long career in supervision. Earlier in life, he worked in the Morehead area in farming, construction, and management of the Morehead State University Farm. A hard working and dependable man, Ed could always be counted on to lend a hand- especially if it involved tools, lumber, or something that needed "just a little fixing." Long before "DIY" was a thing, Ed was the guy everyone called for help (and usually ended up teaching or learning something along the way.)
Growing up on a farm taught him the resourcefulness to get things done-whether it was fixing a hay baler in the field or to finish stripping that last stalk of tobacco even when the fire had long gone out. Ed was instrumental in shaping two family groups and left each with memories, lessons, and laughter that will last a lifetime.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann McBrayer, of Wabash; eight children, Jennifer (Phillip) Madden and Stephen McBrayer, both of Olive Hill, Kentucky, Byron McBrayer of Morehead, Kentucky, Bret (Ellen) Nealis of Cincinnati, Ohio, Kent Nealis, of Michigan, and Erron (LeighAnn) Nealis, Darci (Trent) Boggs, and David (Tonya) Brown, all of Wabash; 17 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild, and brother, John (Linda) McBrayer, of Kentucky. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Edna, Reba and Doug, and his first wife, JoAnne (Keeton) McBrayer.
Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, with Pastor Tim Webb officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Lawns Cemetery, Wabash. Friends may call 2-3:00 p.m., Wednesday, at the funeral home.
Preferred memorial is American Diabetes Association.
The memorial guest book for Ed may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.