thumb

Linn County News

Published March 26, 2025

 

After living a full and adventurous life of ninety-six years, Alice Walker of rural Blue Mound passed away on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Alice Amy Frazier was born in Kingston, N.Y., on Sept. 3, 1928, to Olen and Eleanor (Griffes) Frazier. She first began her lifelong learning in New York City, where her leadership and feisty nature showed early. Home for Alice, though, was growing up in New Paltz, N.Y., where her father was a university professor and the mountains were at her backdoor. There, she became an accomplished pianist and flutist, earned the highest award possible in Girl Scouts, and was an active member of the Dutch Reformed Church. Her love of travel developed from family vacations throughout the East and summers spent in Kansas with her grandparents.

Alice began college at Texas Women’s University before graduating from Emporia State University with a Library Science degree as well as a double major in English and Social Science in Secondary Education. She later acquired an elementary degree as well, so she could teach PK-12. She was an honor student, played in the orchestra, marched with the band and worked at the university library. Alice began her career as a librarian in Missouri. Her love of reading and books led to her being a Governor’s Appointee to the Southeast Kansas Regional Library Board and serving on the William Allen White Book Selection Committee, on the Kansas State Reading Circle Selection Committee and as the DAR State Librarian. Although she never intended to teach, she actually taught a total of thirty-two years at Centerville, Kincaid High School and Crest Unified School District.

A life of surprises awaited her when the city girl from New York met her future husband, Howard, a Kansas farmer, on the steps of a church one summer. They were married on Feb. 5, 1950, and celebrated fifty-six years of happiness. They truly approached life as a team. Together they raised their two children through college, bought three farms, designed and built a house themselves, operated an income tax business for forty-five years, were 4-H Club and project leaders, hosted foreign-exchange students, and were active members of the Blue Mound Federated Church and then, later, Ordained Elders of the Presbyterian Church in Garnett until it closed. One of the greatest gifts that they gave John and Alicia, their children, was traveling to all the forty-eight continental states as well as Canada and Mexico during the summers.

Alice became a superb seamstress, a grand champion recipe winner in national contests, a test cook for Betty Crocker for thirteen years and Farm Journal for six years, 4-H County Day judge, church pianist and organist, author of three genealogical books on family history, contributing writer for Heritage Quest, and a dedicated regent of the Four Winds DAR Chapter in Garnett. With DAR, Alice also served as President of the Kansas State Officers Club and President of the National State Vice Regents Club. She loved to cook for others and do historical research. Because of her wealth of knowledge, she was an early version of the internet for anyone who sought her help or advice. Three of Alice’s biggest joys were serving as the 35th State Regent of Kansas DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), being inducted into the Kansas Teachers’ Hall of Fame at Dodge City and earning the title of Fellow of the American College of Genealogists as a certified genealogist.

Alice was able to live on the farm alone until ninety-five with the company of her dog, Honey B, the help of her farm renters - Kevin Whitcomb and Melvin Holloman, and the faithful Centerville Community Church that she had come to value so much. After a bad fall, her final year was spent at Moran Manor, where she was treated like family.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Steve Frazier; son-in-law, Dale Jackson; daughter-in-law, Peggy Walker; and grandson by marriage, Zachery Wisely; but the most profound loss was when Howard, her true love and soulmate, died in 2006.

She leaves behind a legacy with two children, John H. Walker of McFarland, and Alicia A. Jackson of Uniontown, along with their families, including six grandchildren - Mary (Brad) Finney of Eskridge; Julie (Kenny) Ten Eyk of McFarland; Jubal (Wendy) Walker of Edmond, Okla.; Gretchen Magee of Gravette, Ark., Meaghan (Matt) Russell of Redfield, and Caitlin (Clayton) Nading of Fort Scott. She was Grandma-Great to twelve: Virginia and Jonathon Walker; Candace (Chris) Davis; Amiee (Ryan) Runyon; Tyler Ten Eyk; Keagan, Layton, Preston, and Jocelyn Magee, and Brayden, Kohlton, and Aubrynn Russell. Her great-great-grandchildren are Reever and Rook Davis as well as Luna and Damon Runyon.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Garnett Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Howard & Alice Walker Scholarship at Emporia State University and left in care of the funeral home. 

OBITUARIES

Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025

thumb

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025   Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith passed away Saturday June 7, 2025, at the Stoneybrook Retirement Community in Manhattan.  She was born on Nov. 19, 1935, in Topeka, Kan., to Neil and Gladys (Goldsmith)... [More]

Ron Arbogast ~ 08-31-1946 to 06-05-2025

thumb

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025   Ron Arbogast, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, coach, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on June 5, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was 78. Born Aug. 31, 1946, in Fort Scott, Kan.,... [More]

Richard “Dick” Smith ~ 04-18-1942 to 06-22-2025

thumb

Linn County News Published June 25, 2025   Richard "Dick" Smith, age 83, formerly of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away in Olathe, Kan., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Graveside Service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Pleasanton Cemetery. Contributions... [More]

More Obituaries

View All Obituaries
PLEASANTON WEATHER

NEWS

NOTICE:

thumb

Due to a scheduling conflict, the commissioners will not be meeting today, June 25th, for a second budget workshop. The meeting has been rescheduled for July 2nd. 

Tanglewood Lakes files suit against Board of County Commissioners

thumb

Requests declaratory judgement that roads are private   The Tanglewood Lakes Owners Association, Inc. (TLOA), filed a lawsuit in Linn County District Court on June 6, 2025, against the Linn County Board of County Commissioners requesting a declaratory judgement from... [More]

Case filed alleging exploitation of minors, breach of privacy

thumb

On June 20, following an extensive investigation by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Linn County Attorney’s Office filed a case in district court charging Erik Hellner, a Sugar Valley Lakes resident, with six separate felonies. The case originally stems from... [More]

More News

SPORTS

Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship

thumb

The Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team traveled to Wichita to compete in the Kansas Trapshooting State tournament. The tournament features more than 110 high schools and over 1,500 student athletes. Pleasanton/Jayhawk compete in the 2A competition which happened on June... [More]

Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad

thumb

Prairie View’s head boys’ wrestling Coach Joey Ewalt does more for the sport than just coaching the Buffalos, he has made an impact on the sport as a wrestler, coach and official. Ewalt began his wrestling career at the very young age of four. His father, Mike Ewalt,... [More]

More Sports

OBITUARIES POLICY

• May be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered.
• Must be received by 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning in order to appear in that week's edition.
• Obituaries submitted by funeral homes will be billed to the funeral home.
• Full obituaries submitted by individuals are required to be paid in advance.
• Cost: $40 for 300 words or less. Each additional word over 300, 10¢. Photograph $5.
Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

View Legals for Free Business Directory