May 15, 2004
Father Kevin Trayers
Father Trayers and his twin brother Denis, who also was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Wichita, were born on May 17, 1927 in Renville, Oranmore, County Galway, Ireland. Father Kevin studied for the priesthood at St. Peter’s College, Wexford, where he was ordained for the Diocese of Wichita on June 8, 1952 by Bishop James Staunton. As an assistant Father Trayers was assigned to Holy Savior Parish, Wichita; St. Andrew Parish, Independence; Sacred Heart Parish, Arkansas City; and St. Margaret Mary Parish, Wichita. As pastor he served in Sacred Heart Parish, Caney; St. Louis Parish, Waterloo, with St. Agnes Parish, Castleton, as a mission; Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Newton; and Sacred Heart Parish, Arkansas City. In 1985 he returned to St. Andrew Parish, Independence, as pastor and in 1993 St. Francis Xavier, Cherryvale, was added to this assignment. Father Trayers served on the Priests’ Council from 1967 until 1973. He retired in 1997 and took up residence in the rectory in Cherryvale until he died two days before his 77th birthday on May 15, 2004. Bishop Gerber was the principal celebrant of his funeral Mass at St. Francis Xavier Parish and Father Trayers was buried in the Cherryvale Cemetery next to his brother Father Denis Trayers who died on September 5, 1993.