Joe Lee Trammell

“Joe the Handyman”

12/28/35 – 5/22/12

Joe Lee Trammell, Sr., “Joe the Handyman,” 76, died of a broken heart after losing his beloved wife, Shirley, in September 2010. They were married for 47 years. Joe was born in Mora, New Mexico and passed away in Merced, CA.

Joe was one of nine children born to Frank and Maria Crissanta Trammell in New Mexico. He joined the Air Force at age 19, and met Shirley Smith in Merced, when he was stationed at Castle AFB in 1962 and they married in 1963. They were attracted to each other by their love of dancing – especially the jitterbug. They lived all over the world, wherever Joe’s duty assignment was: Maine, England, South Carolina, the Philippines, Marysville, CA, and New York. Every two years they would pack up the family and move. Life was tough raising four young kids on an enlisted man’s salary and Joe often worked 3 jobs to make ends meet. He served in Viet Nam and retired as a Tech Sgt in 1978, after 23 years. His last squadron was the 380 MMS at Plattsburgh AFB, NY.

After retiring from the Air Force, Joe and the family returned to Merced, and he attended Fresno City College and earned his HVAC certification, which led to his career as Joe the Handyman. He operated Joe’s Appliance out of his house and worked for various landlords and rental agencies for 34 years until his death. He was truly a Jack of All Trades, working on appliances, plumbing, and electrical problems. He could fix anything. He did much of the house additions himself, with the help of his father-in-law, Bill Avilez.

Joe learned to cook in Viet Nam and would earn extra money cooking for fellow servicemen. That developed into his lifelong love of cooking and barbequing. Joe would often feed his grown family and neighbors. And he loved to garden and grow his own vegetables, especially tomatoes and zucchini.

Joe loved life and helping people, and really enjoyed a good joke or prank. He loved to gamble and play poker with his kids, but really delighted in taking all of their money. He was always there to help out his kids and grandkids, and anyone else he felt needed some help.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents and his grandson, Shawn Brunell, but he was truly devastated by the loss of his beloved wife, Shirley, after an extended battle with cancer in 2010. He did much of the daily cooking for the family, as they took turns helping to care for Mom during her final months. He never got over her death.

He is survived by his children, William “Butch” (Tamera) Trammell of Colorado, Maria (Ernie) Warzyca, Valora (Steve) Teranishi, and Joe Trammell, Jr., of Merced. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Opal Avilez, grandsons, Anthony Trammell and Joe “Jo Jo” Trammell, III, of Merced, brother-in-law, Dennis (Margaret) Smith, of Georgia, and sister-in-law, Kathy Smith of Atwater, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation is from 2PM –7PM, Tues., May 29, at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 10 AM, Wed., May 30 at the Funeral Home. Joe and Shirley will be buried together at Merced District Cemetery following the service. A reception will follow at the Stratford Evans Hall.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Hinds Hospice, 410 W. Main St., Ste A, Merced, CA 95340.