Jill J. Traynor

As she wished, Jill died peacefully while sleeping on May 10, 2024.  She is survived by her daughter, Terri Traynor Koscinski (Tad); her grandsons, Nicholas Rose and Clinton Rose (Katie) and their children; and her brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Suzy Cline and their children and families.   Pre-deceasing Jill are her son, Tim Traynor (2016); her husband, Brian Traynor (2013); and her grandson, Zachary Rose (2012).  

Born in Mt. Morris, Michigan, Jill left the auto factory town shortly after graduating from Mt. Morris High School.  She already had attained a secretarial position with the federal government.   She loved Washington, D.C., and all of the history and democracy for which it stands.  She thoroughly enjoyed her jobs with the Navy Department and in a Congressional office on Capitol Hill.  

During her first year in the nation's capital, Jill met and fell in love with her husband of 56 years, Brian.  A year later, she gave birth to their daughter, Terri; then son, Tim, came along ten years later.  After many years as a stay-at-home mom, Jill re-entered the outside workforce as an employee of Montgomery Travel Center, which she proceeded to own for many years until retirement.

 At her core, Jill was a family girl.  She loved her parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Michigan and Arkansas.  She traveled to them when she could, she housed them when they came to her, and she spoke affectionately of them and their funny stories all throughout her life.  

To say that Jill delighted in her children is an enormous understatement.  No one has been more loving, caring, and supportive of their children.  Whether good or not-so-good times, it did not matter.  She loved Terri and Tim and always had their back.  They and their marvelous sense of humor brought Jill great happiness, which was increased by her grandchildren and great-grands.  

The same is true regarding Jill's friends.  "I have the best friends," she often would say, especially since she became ill.  To a person, the response would be, "That's because you are such a good friend."  

Throughout life, Jill remained close with her best school friend with whom she came from Michigan to DC; her neighbors in each of the three Maryland communities where she had lived; her co-workers and employees – as well as all of their families and friends!   Terri and Tim – as children and adults – often brought home girlfriends, boyfriends, husbands, other friends.   They and many of their parents and then children also became part of Jill's extended family.  Her long arms were always welcoming.

 In addition to her love of family, friends, Gino and other pet dogs, Jill gained great joy from a wide variety of activities – sightseeing in DC; watching and reading about the Redskins, March Madness, the Olympics; reading The Washington Post and other major news publications; discussing politics; watching NBC Nightly News, ABC World News, Chicago Fire, and Blue Bloods; eating Maryland blue crabs and crabcakes; travelling in the USA and abroad; skiing; shopping with her daughter; dining out with family and friends; a daily Starbucks treat; to name just a few.  

Jill Cline Traynor was fun, funny, and fun loving, as well as very smart and conscientious about the welfare of her family and friends, our country's democratic republic, our environment, and our natural resources.  We will miss her.