Thomas Jay Trageser, a custom carpenter and builder, died Tuesday at his mother's home in Erie after a prolonged illness. He was 60. Born in Cleveland, Mr. Trageser was the son of Helen Trageser, and the late William Trageser. He attended Millcreek public and parochial schools, and the Greenbrier Military School, in Lewisburg, W. Va. He graduated from McDowell High School in 1969. In 1971, he married Carol Bebell, in Erie, and the couple moved to a home they built in Venango, Pa. He was employed as a salesman for Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. until 1989, when the family moved to Arlington, Va. There, he established Trageser & Assoc., doing custom carpentry and commercial construction in the Washington, D.C. area. He closed the business and retired five years ago. Mr. Trageser had a big appetite for life, was great fun to be with, and never lost touch with his many close friends in the Erie area. He was an enthusiastic fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and also had a love of photography, golf, and pinochle, which he was playing with friends just hours before his death. In addition to his wife of 40 years, Mr. Trageser is survived by his mother, Helen Trageser, of Erie; two brothers, John of Millersville, Md., and his wife, Karen, and Andrew of Pittsburgh, and his wife, Susan. Also, three sisters, Christine Roylance of Cockeysville, Md., and her husband, Frank, Terry Colwell of Corry, Pa., and her husband, John, and Wendy Onorato, of Erie, and her husband, Paul. Also surviving are his son, Casey, daughter-in-law, Jackie; and grandson, Nathaniel, all of Woodbridge, Va.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Tom was preceded in death by a daughter, Katie Ann, in 1984, and a son, Todd, in 1991. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd., and are invited there on Friday for the funeral service at 2 p.m. conducted by the Rev. John Dyke. Burial will follow at the Laurel Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3642 W. 26th St., Erie, PA 16506.