Linn County News
Published July 12, 2017
Cleland F. Allen, age 85, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away early Saturday, July 8, 2017, at the Medicalodge of Fort Scott. He was born Sept. 29, 1931, in Arkansas City, Kan., the son of McKinley Allen and Inez Adams Allen.
He graduated from the Mound City High School with the Class of 1949. Cleland served for 20 years with the United States Air Force. He retired in 1971 with the rank of tech sergeant.
Following his military service, he married Mary Dauben on April 16, 1976, in Nevada, Mo.
He worked for a time for Key Industries and also worked as a long haul trucker. He then worked for several years for Bourbon County.
He enjoyed traveling, reading and spending time with his family. He was a member of the Cherry Grove Baptist Church, the American Legion and the Olson Frary Burkhart Post No. 1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars where he frequently served with the VFW honor guard. He was also a past member of the Lions Club.
Survivors include his children, Rodney Allen and wife Sandy of Deer Lodge, Mont., Gary Simons and wife Liz of Kearney, Mo., Larry Joe Simons and wife Kim of Fort Scott, Janice Briggs and husband Dusty of Bushton, Kan., Sandra Newton and husband Paul Joe of Fort Scott, Connie Simons of Fairview, Okla., Pam Riedel of Liberty, Mo., and Diane Gray and husband Rob of Fort Scott; 19 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters, Vada Casteel and husband Max of Clinton, Mo., and Joyce Allen of Fort Scott; a sister-in-law, Minnie Lou Allen of Fort Scott; and numerous nieces and nephews.
His wife Mary preceded him in death on Feb. 1, 2014. He was also preceded in death by two sons, Bobby Simons and Billy Simons; two brothers, Morris and Ottis Allen; and a grandson, a great-grandson and a niece.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 13, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U.S. National Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post No. 1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 9 a.m. until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Cherry Grove Baptist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
OBITUARIES
Ruth Ann Antrim ~ 05-21-1951 to 07-07-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Ruth Ann Antrim, formerly Hueston, passed away July 7, 2025, after bravely battling cancer for many years. Ruth Ann was 74 years old. She lived and worked in the Mound City and Fort Scott, Kan., areas her... [More]
Helen Maxine Wright ~ 05-28-1939 to 06-19-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Helen Maxine Wright, age 86, formerly of Blue Mound, Kan., passed away at her home in Abbyville, Kan., on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Funeral service was held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 7, 2025, at the Community... [More]
Kelly Kehl ~ 03-25-1938 to 06-28-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Kelly Kehl, age 87, of Mound City, Kan., passed away Saturday, June 28, 2025, at his rural Mound City home. Kelly was born March 25, 1938, south of Parker, Kan., to Keith (Tom) Emerson Kehl and Helen Edith (Giffin) Kehl. Kelly... [More]
More Obituaries
- Kandi Kay Cruse ~ 03-29-1958 to 06-27-2025
- Jessica Cae Pritchett ~ 08-30-1981 to 06-26-2025
- Jackie Junior “Jack” Hewitt ~ 07-17-1935 to 06-18-2025
- Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025
- Ron Arbogast ~ 08-31-1946 to 06-05-2025
- Richard “Dick” Smith ~ 04-18-1942 to 06-22-2025
- Charles Edwin Sutterby ~ 06-20-1951 to 06-19-2025
- Windfred Allen DeMott ~ 09-15-1940 to 06-07-2025
NEWS
SPECIAL: Benefits question an issue for county employees

A poll sent to Linn County employees mid-week asking which benefit they would prefer to lose has created a spark of animosity among those who received it. One person anonymously shared it to a Mound City-oriented Facebook page as a screen shot along with their comments highlighting... [More]
Commissioners discuss various budgets

SEKMHC in mix At the end of a meeting attended by two of the three commissioners, a discussion was held regarding several of the proposed budgets for next year. Commissioners Alison Hamilton and Jim Johnson first discussed the proposed budget for Southeast Kansas Mental Health.... [More]
City learns of fire gear condition

Pleasanton Fire Department ISO inspection July 16 Following the appointment of new Fire Chief Jimmy Watts as Pleasanton Fire Chief, the Pleasanton Council heard of the condition of bunker gear Monday night at their bi-weekly meeting. Watts reported the truck ran with the... [More]
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SPORTS
Nobodys wins Blue Mound co-ed softball tournament

The team called Nobodys wins the Blue Mound 4th of July co-ed softball tournament on July 5. This year the tournament consisted of eight teams. The Nobodys is Keith Morrell’s team and has been a part of the softball tournament since it started three years ago.
Pleasanton 12-14 baseball wins championship

The Pleasanton 12-14 baseball team wins their league tournament on June 30 to July 1. Pleasanton hosted the tournament and won in the championship against La Cygne 11-7.
More Sports
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship
- Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad
- Prairie View trapshooting competes at State
- Pleasanton and Jayhawk baseball on the 2025 All TRL team
- Jayhawk Linn softball has three All TRL unanimous selections
- Trenton Broyles leads Hawks at State track
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

