Paul Michael Traynor, 72, of Evart, died June 7, 2026, at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after a short illness. He was cremated and a memorial for the family will occur at the annual family fish fry. Friends may send cards of sympathy to his son Garrett at 9170 Chippewa Trail, Evart, MI, 49631. Contributions may be made in Paul’s name to the American Kidney Fund or the American Cancer Society.

Paul was born May 11, 1954, in Flint, Michigan, to Oakley Orville Traynor Sr. and Mary Catherine (Kelly) Traynor and lived for many years on Yale Street. His last residence was his home on Lake Mirimichi in Evart.

Paul will be missed by the many who loved him, his brothers and sisters; his son and granddaughter; and anyone he met. He was married two times and divorced each time.

Friends and family will remember the small mannerisms that made his personality; a finger beside his nose, tilting his head back with a quizzical look when he disagreed with something, greeting his sister-in-law, Cathy, with “Hi” and a wink, the dirty cooler he carried his beer in that his sister Patty washed whenever he visited.

Paul was proud of son Garrett and bragged about Garrett’s naval service. But he was most proud of the granddaughter his son sired. Granddaughter Riley, 4, had the full attention of her grandfather. His phone photos of the last four years are all Riley and Paul always had a story about how she taught him something. During one of his health issues when he needed to monitor his oxygen levels, Riley taught him the right way to use a pulse oximeter.

Paul enjoyed playing his guitar and liked jamming late into the night with his brother Tommy. He occasionally teamed with his friend Dean Kress for gigs in local bars. He gifted an acoustical guitar and taught his great-niece, Hope, how to play the guitar and instilled in her a great love of music.

His great-nieces and great-nephews all loved Paul and he regaled them with wonderfully funny stories. His great-niece Ashley recalls his tardiness showing up late for the annual Traynor Ice Fishing Camp, but he was on time for dinner at brother, Carl’s, and sister-in-law, Julie’s, house for dinner. Even though he was a penny pincher, he would empty his pockets of change for the kids and then drive them to the store for pop, candy and ice cream. Then later at the Swiss Inn, he'd make his brothers or father Oakie buy the beer because he was supposedly broke. He enjoyed drinking beer at the Swiss Inn and the Buckhorn and was well known and loved at both places. Beers with his family were enjoyable occasions and a good time was usually had by all with Paul’s timely wit on full display. Paul was a factory worker before he retired in 2022. He worked at Alro Steel in Lansing and finished his career at Evart Products, which became Ventra and then Flex-n-Gate.

Paul is survived by his son Garrett, granddaughter Riley; brothers Oakley “Skip” (Cathy) Traynor, Jr.; Carl (Julie) Traynor; Thomas (Roseann) Traynor; sisters Penny Shipley; and Patty (Kirk) Salvati; eight nephews and three nieces; sixteen great-nieces and great-nephews; and nine great-great nephews and great-great nieces. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Oakley Traynor, Sr. and Mary Catherine Traynor; brother-in-law Frank Shipley, Jr.; and nephews Frank Shipley III, Jason Shipley and TJ Traynor.