John "Ken" Kendall Traxler

John Kendall “Ken” Traxler, 69, of Madison, MS, entered eternity on February 4, 2026. His last moments were peaceful and surrounded by loved ones. He often repeated a phrase he and his wife would tell each other when life got rough – “just keep swimming.” He said the phrase may have come from a silly movie, but it was a good reminder that they’d get through any challenge together.

Ken was born in Jackson, MS on October 31, 1956, to parents John Billy and Elsie Barlow Traxler. Ken grew up in Jackson with his two brothers, always creating mischief that kept everyone laughing. He and his brothers spent many hours hunting, fishing, and playing golf with their father, creating a solid bond and memories that still entertain the family today.

After proposing to Lynda with a ring he had carefully put into a fortune cookie, Ken and his wife joined together in marriage in Jackson, MS in 1984. Their first few years of marriage were spent in New Orleans, LA, where Ken was a traveling salesman for Southern Leather Company. They often joked about the ways they made their tiny apartment on the Mississippi River enjoyable, most notably how they cooked steaks once a week on a little Hibachi grill sitting on two cinderblocks on the patio! Ken and Lynda moved back to Jackson, MS, in 1986, a few years before being blessed with their two children, Wesley and Maggie. The family of four enjoyed many, many beach vacations in Florida, one absolutely hilarious trip to the Smokey mountains, and one very cold Fourth of July in Lake Tahoe visiting Ken’s brother Greg.

Ken worked for many years at Product Services, Co., a locally owned industrial manufacturing and global shipping business. He was a hard-working general manager, helping the business adapt to economic changes for over 35 years. He forged many lasting friendships over these years, and coworkers became like family.

Taking after his father, Ken was an avid outdoorsman. He spent many weekends at the deer camp, sometimes enjoying the solitude of the forest and sometimes with his children, riding 4-wheelers and teaching them to fish, hunt, and even drive his truck. Other weekends, he and Wesley enjoyed watching Ole Miss play football, even when it was hard to be a fan. Ken and Maggie always shared an interest in music, and the two often dug through Ken’s old record collection. In the summers, Ken and Lynda spent many hours at the backyard pool, soaking up the sun and enjoying the fruits of their beautiful life together.

Ken will be remembered by his family as a great storyteller. His presence was captivating, one that made you want to lean in and listen close. Many Thanksgiving and Christmas meals ended with him recounting funny memories, working in jokes here and there, and sometimes adding a life lesson towards the end. He never failed to make an audience laugh.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents John Billy Traxler and Elsie Barlow Traxler.

He is survived by his wife, Lynda Land Traxler; children John Wesley Traxler and Maggie Traxler Hartness (Hunter); brothers Billy Keith Traxler (Elizabeth) and Thomas Gregory Traxler (Holly); nephews Miller Land, Reed Land, and Mason Land; nieces Melany Land Cortez, Shannon Land, Jordan Warren, and Devin Traxler; and aunt Deloris “Dee” Beasley.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., followed by a funeral at Parkway Funeral Home & Memorial Cemetery in Ridgeland, MS. Brother John Cofer of Liberty Baptist Church, Ken’s home church for many years, will officiate.

The family wants to thank the medical providers who cared for Ken over the last few years, especially Dr. Timothy Chen, Dr. Ruth Fredericks, Dr. Rebecca Pace, Dr. Guangzhi Qu, all their staff members, and especially the “Earth Angels” aka nurses, aides, chaplain and social worker from AccentCare Hospice.

In lieu of flower, Ken requested donations to Liberty Baptist Church, 5199 Lakeland Drive, Flowood, MS 39232 or at www.lbcflowood.org/give.