Linn County News
Published May 3, 2023
Dale Deer, age 82, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kan., passed away Sunday, April 30, 2023, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kan. He was born May 25, 1940, in Bronson, Kan., the son of William Percy Deer and Kathryn Maxine Jackson Deer. Dale graduated from Uniontown High School with the Class of 1959. He first married Donna Kirker in 1961. They had two daughters, Debbie and Susan. This marriage ended in divorce. Dale later married Linda Jean Sullivan Epps at the Prescott United Methodist Church on Oct. 20, 1995, and gained two step-daughters, Amy and Stacy.
In earlier years, Dale farmed and then owned and operated his own trucking company. In 1996, he sold out of the trucking business and went to work for Linn County where he remained until his retirement in 2006. Following retirement, Dale and Linda were able to travel much of the United States as well as Australia and New Zealand and were able to enjoy many of God’s creations. He was a member of the West Liberty United Methodist Church and the Mapleton/Fulton Masonic Lodge.
Survivors include his wife, Linda, of the home; two daughters, Debbie Rogers, (Larry) of Fort Scott, and Susan Cannon (Delbert) of Prescott, a step-daughter, Amy Hutton (Tim); eight living grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Tabitha Hardesty (Kent), Kayla Bronson (Jeff), Erica Bolton (Jason), Chase Cannon (Alison), Dyamond Hutton, Zoe Hutton, Ryan Rogers (Megan) and Shanna Rogers; four great-granddaughters, Kenzi Hardesty, Riley Bronson, Morgyn Bronson and Brylin Rogers; four great-grandsons, Blaine Rogers, Cruz Bolton, Blake Swift and Colben Cannon and a great-great-grandson, Skylar. Also surviving are a brother, Kirk Deer (Debbie) of Mound City, Kan.; four sisters, Betty Adams of Fort Scott, Elaine Gibbons of Chanute, Kathy Combs (Kevin) of Girard, Kan., and Joyce Hall (Brian) of Fort Scott; and a sister-in-law, Jackie Deer of Nevada, Texas. Dale was preceded in death by a grandson, Heath Cannon in 1998; a step-daughter, Stacy Epps in 1999; and a brother, Carroll Deer in 2012.
Rev. Jim Brackett will conduct a celebration of life service at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, at the West Liberty United Methodist Church. Private burial will take place in the Prescott Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Heath Cannon Scholarship Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
OBITUARIES
Linda Sue Tyson ~ 01-24-1942 to 03-21-2025

Linn County News Published March 26, 2025 Linda was born on Jan. 24, 1942, in Garnett, Kan., to Lester and Almeta Prentice. She was the oldest of three children. Her sisters are Elizabeth (Barnett) and Judy (Scully). Linda grew up near Parker, Kan., and attended... [More]
Brent Ross Wheeler ~ July 27, 1956 – March 22, 2025

Linn County News Published March 26, 2025 Brent Ross Wheeler, 68, of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away peacefully on March 22, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. He was born on July 27, 1956 in Fort Scott in the back seat of his parent’s car to Ralph and... [More]
Alice Walker ~ 09-03-1928 to 03-20-2025

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)... [More]
More Obituaries
- 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
- Elizabeth Joyce Keaton ~ 02-14-1936 to 03-01-2025
- Keith Couch ~ 06-22-1927 to 03-01-2025
- Michael Anthony Taylor ~ 11-21-1957 to 01-21-2025
NEWS
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]
La Cygne accepts deed conveyance on split vote

Meeting also features new legal hire following Harding resignation On a 2-1 vote, La Cygne’s council has empowered its mayor to sign a letter seeking completion of a deed transfer on condemned property. At last Wednesday’s regular meeting, Jerome Mitzner’s... [More]
More News
- 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
- Resident questions legal opinion on approved minor plat
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.
• 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

