Evelyn Maxine Ham
04-08-1924 to 06-03-2018
Linn County News
Published June 6, 2018
Evelyn Maxine Ham went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, June 3, 2018.
Evelyn was born on April 8, 1924, to Charles and Francena Holmes Vest. She grew up on the State Line between Prescott, Kan., and Hume, Mo., and as a child walked with her brother and sister to the Fairmount Church every Sunday. She graduated from Prescott High School, and after high school Evelyn worked at the Western Insurance Co. waiting for her high school sweetheart to return from basic training.
Walt Ham and Evelyn Vest were married in 1946, and together they drove a model T Ford to Washington, D.C., on dirt roads. In Washington, Walt worked at the Pentagon and also was a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier until the war work ended. Evelyn was employed by the original Macys department store while in Washington.
After returning to Prescott Evelyn was employed by the Prescott Bank, the United States Post Office and Ham Implement Co. She later owned a ceramic shop where many clients were taught the art of ceramic. In addition to being a wife and mother and working full time, she was the best homemaker around, a wonderful cook, a seamstress, always had a garden and canned, and she loved her beautiful flowers. She would have even made June Cleaver look bad! (And Evelyn was beautiful.)
Evelyn lost Walt, her best friend and husband of 67 years, in November of 2014. They were still just as devoted to one another as they were in high school. Evelyn missed Walt so much, that family and friends may take much comfort knowing that they are now together again. Evelyn was just waiting for her happy reunion with Walt and her Lord.
Evelyn is survived by her two children: son Larry Ham and wife Pam of rural Fort Scott, Kan., and Linda Pruitt and husband Urvy of Fort Scott. She was blessed with four grandsons and their families: Kirby and Jay Ham, and Jeff and Derek Fugate. There are eight great grandchildren. Also surviving are one sister, Addie Mae Ralph of Fort Scott; and two sisters-in-law, Shirley Park of Pleasant Hill, Mo., and Clara Vest of Springfield, Mo. She was preceded in death by a brother, Bud Vest.
Evelyn was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Fort Scott, and she was very close to her church family. She listened to Pastor Paul Rooks on the radio every Sunday.
Graveside services will be conducted at 10.30 a.m. Thursday, June 7, 2018, by Pastor Paul Rooks at the Prescott Cemetery, Prescott. Schneider Funeral Home of Pleasanton is in charge of arrangements. A special thanks to the caring staff at Prescott County View Nursing Home. Evelyn always said, “They are so clean, and they feed me too much.”
The family suggests contributions to the Grace Baptist Church in Fort Scott, which may be sent in care of Schneider Funeral Home, P.O. Box 525, Pleasanton, Kan. 66075. Online condolences may be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.
OBITUARIES
Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025

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

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

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
- Charles Edwin Sutterby ~ 06-20-1951 to 06-19-2025
- Windfred Allen DeMott ~ 09-15-1940 to 06-07-2025
- Maxine Breuel ~ 11-20-1926 to 06-07-2025
- Richard Paul Henderson ~ 07-26-1950 to 06-01-2025
- Rees Lyle Shattuck 08-31-1931 to 05-26-2025
- Dixie Bradley Wilkerson 10-15-1939 to 05-30-2025
- Gary Ray Johnson 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025
- Gary Ray Johnson ~ 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025
NEWS
NOTICE:

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

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

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

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

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
- 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
- Prairie View track earns six medals at State
- Pleasanton’s Gratton wins two golds, sets meet record
- Jayhawk track breaks another school record and qualifies multiple athletes for State
- School records and State qualifiers are made for the Jays at Eureka
- Prairie View track qualifies multiple athletes for State
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

