Francis Albert Traffas was born December 20, 1912, in Sharon, Kansas, the seventh
  child of Michael and Mary Traffas. He attended St. Boniface School in Sharon and
  grew to young manhood laboring on the family farm. Betty Maxine Duckworth was born
  August 7, 1924, in Medford, Oklahoma, the only child of Charles and Estelle Duckworth.
  She moved to Sharon in 1939, where she met Francis. They were married October 20, 1943,
  in St. Boniface Catholic Church.
     They built a small house on the family farm. While living there their first child,
  Rosemary, was born. Rosemary lived only eleven months when she died from influenza
  pneumonia. Farncis and Betty moved to the old D. Clough farm where they engaged in
  farming and raising registered Hereford cattle. During the next eleven years six
  children were born; Gloria in 1946, Kathleen in 1947, Mary Leah in 1948, Francis
  Charles, later known as Charlie, in 1950, Timothy in 1955 and Rory in 1957. They all
  attended St. Boniface Primary School and Sharon High School. Gloria, Tim and Rory 
  were each salutatorians of their respective Senior classes. Upon graduation, Gloria
  attended Wichita Business College and became a secretary until her marriage to Norman
  Bayer of Wichita.
     Katheleen and Mary Leah attended Kansas State University and Wichita University for
  two years. Kathleen married John Dohm in 1968. Mary Leah went to Hawaii to work where
  she met Regis Ryan, better known as Ron, who was serving in the Air Force. They were
  married in 1969 and moved to Kansas for his discharge.
     Charlie attended Wichita State University for three years, during which time he
  married Jeanie Cline of Medicine lodge. He worked at several jobs, eventually
  becoming General Sales Manager of a large Wichita Country Music Radio Station, KFDI.
  Tim attended Pratt Junior College where he graduated. He married his high school
  sweetheart, Pat Rankin. Tim and Rory took over the family farm and Registerd Hereford
  herd when Francis retired. At this writing Rory is not married.
     Francis and Betty had been blessed with twenty-one grandchildren by 1979. Gloria
  and Norman had six; Rhonda, Robin, Clint, Clay, Deborah and David; Kathleen and John
  had sis; Tonya, Shelia, Brent, Scotty, Wendy, and Jeanie; Mary and Ron had three;
  Julie, Billy and Rory. Charlie and Jeanie had four children; Mike, Danny, Genae and
  Dustin; Tim and Pat had two; Brandon and Kimberly.
     Betty served as Postmaster at Sharon from 1965 until this writing in 1979. She
  also, through the years, was a contest hobbyist, winnning many prizes, one of which
  was an all-expense paid trip to Hawaii for Francis and herself.
     Francis acquired many honors in agriculture, receiving awards in soil conservation,
  Balanced Farming and Family Living, 4-H Leadership. He served as Extension treasurer,
  Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus, Church Committeeman, President of Barber 
  Commanche and Barber Hereford Associations through the years. His Hereford bulls won
  him many ribbons and trophies. His most cherished honor was being elected Minister of
  Communion at St. Boniface Church.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 457 
     Submitted by: Francis Traffas