Linn County News
Published March 15, 2023
C. H. Parker, age 80, formerly of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away Monday, March 6, 2023.
C.H. Parker was born into a Kansas family with a history in the early railroads of southeast Kansas. He was the youngest of four brothers all born to a dance instructor mother, Thelma Parker, and grocery store merchant father, Don Parker, of Pleasanton, Kan.
C. H. Parker leaves behind a legacy of what a true gentleman can accomplish in a lifetime. In the Pleasanton High School, he participated in debate, drama, basketball and football. After graduating in 1960, C.H. served in the U.S. Army attaining a rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He received his teaching degree in Theatre/Speech from Pittsburg State University. With that degree he became a young professor of Speech and Theatre at Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, Okla. In 1970, C. H. was accepted into the University of Texas, at Austin, graduate program for an MFA degree in Theatre.
Mr. Parker was with the “Trail of Tears” outdoor drama in Tahlequah, Okla., for several seasons, where he made professional friendships from the east coast theatre scene and eventually lead to his living and working in New York City in 1972.
C.H. went to New York to break into a directing career but found a job at a Broadway gym, where he became a trainer for several Broadway stars including Glynis Johns and Barry Bostwick who performed in the original “Grease” on Broadway. In late 1973, C.H. was asked to be part of a new pilot program in San Antonio, Texas, where urban city youth would be part of a nationally funded program study on Preventive Mental Health. As a charter member of this artistic team of professional arts instructors, Mr. Parker would guide high risk kids into the disciplines required for the arts and to retain those values along with the right amount of self esteem. C.H. devoted seven years to this program which received the national award for Most Outstanding Mental Health Center in the nation. President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter bestowed the honor on the pilot program that proved Preventive Mental Health was a worthwhile endeavor to invest in.
In 1980, C. H. returned to Tahlequah to become a professor of drama at Northeastern State University until his retirement several years ago. While at NSU, C.H became an advisor to various groups including Native American Studies, Muskogee's Country Music Hall of Fame where he became the staging director for the event, getting to work with Oklahoma greats as they were inducted. Carrie Underwood was a student of C.H.'s university staged country western musicals that featured Underwood before her career took off. Joe Sears, the Tony nominated actor/playwright for the “Greater Tuna” series of comedy plays was a student who always claimed Mr. Parker was his mentor for 54 years of professional friendship.
A champion of small town values, C. H. became and lived out the values of his hometown Pleasanton, Kan., never faltering on a devoted life to serving God as a Christian and a doer of good works in God's name. He cared for his mother in his home until she died at the age of 102. Mr. Parker will be laid to rest alongside his Pleasanton, Kan., family.
Funeral service will be 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel with burial following in the Pleasanton Cemetery. Visitation will be held 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 10, at the Pleasanton Chapel. Memorial contributions are suggested to Northeastern State University Theatre Department, c/o Schneider Funeral Home, P.O. Box 525, Pleasanton, Kan. 66075.
OBITUARIES
Donna Lee (Bishop) Stites ~ 02-13-1941 to 03-26-2025

Linn County News Published April 2, 2025 Donna Lee (Bishop) Stites, age 84, of Mound City, Kan., passed away peacefully in her sleep March 26, 2025, at the Olathe Medical Center, after an extended illness. Born on Feb. 13, 1941, the third child of Jacob and... [More]
Frank Scott DeRemus ~ 06-21-1967 to 03-04-2025

Linn County News Published April 2, 2025 Frank Scott DeRemus age 57 of Blue Mound, Kan., passed away Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at his home in Blue Mound. Scott was born June 21, 1967, in Olathe, Kan., to Frank Fox and Sharon K. (Chadwick) DeRemus. On August 11, 1994,... [More]
Douglas Eugene Joseph ~ 08-06-1964 to 03-16-2025

Linn County News Published April 2, 2025 Douglas Eugene Joseph, 60, of Fort Scott, Kan., died Sunday, March 16, 2025, at Research Medical Center, Kansas City, Mo. Doug was born on Aug. 6, 1964, in Pittsburg, Kan., to Jean Ann Jones. He graduated from high school... [More]
More Obituaries
- Linda Sue Tyson ~ 01-24-1942 to 03-21-2025
- Brent Ross Wheeler ~ July 27, 1956 – March 22, 2025
- Alice Walker ~ 09-03-1928 to 03-20-2025
- Colton James McCammon ~ 08-26-2003 to 03-15-2025
- Kenneth Lawrence Sloan ~ 01-24-1950 to 03-11-2025
- Lois Joan Streeter ~ 11-18-1931 to 03-05-2025
- Lila R. McCarty ~ 05-21-1938 to 03-08-2025
- Norma Jean Harvey ~ 09-26-1935 to 02-21-2025
NEWS
SPECIAL: STATEHOUSE REPORTING BUDGET FOR MARCH 28, 2025

FETALPERSONHOOD – The House and Senate on Thursday passed a bill that will require child support for unborn fetuses from the date of conception as well as an income tax exemption. A conference committee report was presented for HB2062 before the... [More]
SPECIAL: U.S. 69 overlay project set to begin in Bourbon and Linn counties

Monday, March 31, the Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin resurfacing work on U.S. 69 in Bourbon and Linn counties. An overlay will be placed on the northbound lanes of U.S. 69, starting at the south U.S. 54 junction in Fort Scott and continuing... [More]
Commissioners learn of grant for planning phase on courthouse repairs

During the March 24 meeting, the Linn County Commissioners heard from Linn County Public Works Administrator Shaun West on a grant possibility for repair work to the courthouse. SEKRPC (SEK Regional Planning Commission) is willing to assist with the HPF (Historic Preservation... [More]
More News
- La Cygne accepts deed conveyance on split vote
- Commissioners hear from resident on subdivision meeting
- SPECIAL: K-52 resurfacing project will begin soon
- Linn Valley imposes moratorium on new water and sewer construction
- Wind and fire damage dots county
- County hears from Tanglewood residents during public comment
- Commissioners discuss new option for Devlin Road
- Board votes to extend Meik contract
SPORTS
2025 Boys’ Basketball All County team

The 2024-2025 high school boys’ basketball has concluded and it is time once again for the annual All County team. As usual choosing the team was tough as there were many good players this season and plenty more that showed steady progress through the season. As... [More]
2025 Girls’ Basketball All County team

High school girls’ basketball has concluded for the 2024-25 season and it’s time for the annual All County team. Like the boys’ team, and like most years, choosing players was tough. Plenty of girls from all three schools, Prairie View, Jayhawk Linn and Pleasanton,... [More]
More Sports
- A season in review: Jayhawk Linn wrestling
- A season in review: Prairie View wrestling
- Pleasanton boys’ basketball earns Sub-State runner-up
- Prairie View girls’ basketball ends season against Neodesha
- Case leads Prairie View girls’ wrestling with a second-place finish
- McCarty leads Lady Hawks with a fourth-place finish at State
- Blu-Jays win sub-state shootout
- Jayhawk boys’ wrestling sends five to State
OBITUARIES POLICY
• May be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered.
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

