Joseph Traugott

Joseph was born on April 15th, 1956, in Hot Springs, Arkansas to Joseph Daniel Traugott and Emma Sue Traugott (Buttrum). To his friends he was Joe but to his family he was Joey. As the oldest of four children, he was fiercely protective and caring for his siblings, making sure they had food and whatever they needed. They remember him at the age of twelve going out to Chesapeake Bay fishing and crabbing to bring home and prepare dinner for them. He was also known for his antics and teasing his siblings with such tricks as showing them that they could crack Easter eggs on their forehead to peel them. Failing to tell them that one of the eggs was not boiled. Little sister Susan was the lucky one who found that egg! Another one of his antics that the family would often tell is when Joe was working at Iowa Beef and he brought a cow’s eye home and placed it in the freezer, so when his little brother opened the door for his daily ice cream the eye was looking right at him! There was never a dull moment when Joe was around! He taught his siblings to swim by taking them out on a raft in Chesapeake Bay and kicking them off telling them that if you don’t want to drown then you had better swim back to shore. All the while ready to dive in to save them. Family and friends remember and cherish Joe for his since of humor and his love for adventure. As a boy he and his friend Bill Henwood were Virginia’s Huckle Berry Finn and Tom Sawyer. After moving to Texas Joe decided to hitchhike to see the country. Stopping in New Mexico to work on a ranch at the young age of 16. Later, he took his three mules Joe, Moe and Cheynne to Arizona on a mining expedition. His love of mining took him to Chicken Alaska to mine for gold. Living in a tent in the middle of winter! The stories he would tell you about his adventures would make you laugh until you hurt. Joe’s sense of humor was infectious, and his smile was a treasure to all that knew and loved him. Joe married Holly Khoury in 1976, and they welcomed twin daughters Rachel and Vallarie in 1977. Just as a brother, he was a fiercely protective and loving father. The girls will laugh and tell stories of their camping adventures with him and him teaching them to fish and shoot. And yes, teaching them to sink or swim like he did his siblings. And famously running off their boyfriends he did not like with a couple of gun shots in the air! Joe was a millwright and pipefitter by trade, and was employed at Ascaro until he moved to Alaska in 1982 living there for 23 years working as a millwright throughout the state from Anchorage, Prudhoe Bay, Adak, the North Slope and lastly Shemya where he worked for the missile defense program, He also spent two years working in Azerbaijan Turkey on offshore rigs. Joe met the love of his life, Jodi Drake, in 1998, Their connection was instant and deep, the kind of love that felt like home. He called her his “Sapphire” always being there through every high and low, offering his quiet strength and his unwavering loyalty. Together, they built a life filled with love, laughter, and the kind of companionship that only grew stronger with time. Joe’s love knew no bounds and his family circle was lovingly extended to include his adult stepchildren, Kyle, Brandon and Chad Drake. Joe had a special bond with his dear cousins Harlan and Jeanell Buttrum and John and Kate Westerman. He loved them dearly and cherished the memories of the times when they would get together to fish or just sit on the front porch to tell stories and shoot the bull.

He was lovingly reunited in eternal rest with his dear father Joseph Daniel Traugott, his devoted mother Emma Mullican, step father, Bill Mullican, brother Kurt Traugott, Grandparents, Joseph John and Gertrude Traugott, Virgil Buttrum and Emma Helms, Niece, Bethany Mullican, step-sons, Kyle and Chad Drake and the many treasured aunts, uncles and cousins who went before him. Together again, they surround him with the same love and warmth that defined their time on earth.

Those who survive him and will forever cherish his memory include his devoted wife, Jodi Traugott, Daughters, Rachel Traugott and Valarie Traugott, stepson, Brandon Drake, Grandchildren, Devonte Traugott, Silas Traugott-Self, Alexis, Kyle, Kody and Alivia Drake, Mia and Sasha Zamora. Great Grandchildren, Paige Wood, Chira Traugott, Zendya Traugott. Sisters, Susan Traugott Ludwig and husband Bill Ludwig, Melanie Ross, Brother, Michael Mullican, Numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 18, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 6969 East I-40, Amarillo, TX 79118

Funeral Services will take place on Thursday, February 19, at 2:00 PM at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 6969 East I-40, Amarillo, TX 79118