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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

Gary Ray Johnson ~ 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025

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Linn County News Published June 4, 2025   Gary Ray Johnson, age 90 of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on May 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, June 2, 2025, at the Schneider Funeral Home in Pleasanton, Kan. Visitation... [More]

Rees Lyle Shattuck ~ 08-31-1931 to 05-26-2025

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Linn County News Published May 28, 2025   Rees Lyle Shattuck, age 93, Prescott, Kan., passed away Monday, May 26, 2025. He was born on Aug. 31, 1931, in Boicourt, Kan., the son of Rees Wilbur and Lulu Elizabeth Black Shattuck. He served his country in the United... [More]

Wayne Eldon Long ~ 07-03-1942 to 05-24-2025

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Linn County News Published May 28, 2025   Wayne Eldon Long, age 82, of Parker, Kan., passed away on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Wayne was born on July 3, 1942, in Garnett, Kan., the son of Homer Leon and Margaret Ethel (Collins) Long. He was one of three children and... [More]

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PLEASANTON WEATHER

NEWS

SPECIAL: Commission to vote Monday on Parker Center lease

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Linn County commissioners plan to vote at their weekly 9 a.m. meeting next Monday, June 2, on a 99-year lease agreement with Parker and their Senior Center building. At Tuesday's weekly Commission meeting, delayed by a day because of Monday's federal Memorial Day observance,... [More]

Despite Chamber loss, Blast in the Park fireworks will go off

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Council actions include split vote on deed conveyance   Hearing of the disbandment of its local Chamber of Commerce, La Cygne leaders have verbally concurred that the city’s part in the annual Blast in the Park festivities will go on. Following that Chamber notification... [More]

Linn Valley discusses city hall funding sources

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The Linn Valley City Council held its bi-monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025, with Mayor Lew Donelson presiding and all council members present.    Donelson informed the council of two potential opportunities for funding a new City Hall building. ... [More]

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SPORTS

Jayhawk track breaks another school record and qualifies multiple athletes for State

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The Jayhawk Linn track team traveled to West Franklin on May 22 to compete in the 3A Regional. As a team the girls placed 10th with a score of 22.5 points while the boys were fifth with 56 points. This year the top three places in each event qualify for the State meet then... [More]

School records and State qualifiers are made for the Jays at Eureka

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The Pleasanton track team traveled to Eureka on May 22 for a 2A Regional track meet. This year the top three places advance to the State meet along the top four times/distances not from the top three from all other Regionals. This year the Jays qualified eight athletes in seven... [More]

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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

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