Frances Todd Baker, age 86, formerly of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away in hospice at Englewood, Colo.
Born in Atchison, Kan., on March 18, 1930, Fran lived in Kansas City, Mo., until 1959 when she married Willis Baker and moved to Pleasanton, Kan.
She will be remembered as a lifelong equestrian and an active member of the Mission Valley Foxhunt for over 65 years. Additionally, Fran is fondly remembered as a woman of keen intelligence, a dry wit and a tough pioneer spirit.
Fran asked that the following quote be read at her memorial as a reminder of how life is meant to be lived.
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow! What a Ride!’” —Hunter S. Thompson
Fran is survived by her husband Willis Baker; and two sons Stew and Philip Baker. A private family-only service will be held in Kansas City.
OBITUARIES
John Thomas (Tommy) Trotter ~ 01-26-1945 to 01-20-2026
Linn County News Published May 20, 2026 John Thomas (Tommy) Trotter was born Jan. 26, 1945, in Paris, Tenn., to John Houston Trotter and Mary Elexie (Workman) Trotter. He departed this earthly home on Jan. 20, 2026. He lived and worked on his parents’... [More]
William Alvin Good ~ 01-26-1933 to 05-11-2026
Linn County News Published May 20, 2026 William Alvin “Bill” Good, 93, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Monday, May 11, 2026, at home with his family by his side following a brief illness. Bill was born Jan. 26, 1933, in Merwin, Mo., to Ralph Russell... [More]
Richard Ray Snyder ~ 09-17-1951 to 05-01-2026
Linn County News Published May 6, 2026 Richard Ray Snyder, age 74, of Iola, Kan., passed away on May 1, 2026, at his home. A visitation will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at The Venue, 1883 HWY 54, Iola, Kan., from 1-3 p.m. Burial will take place privately at a later... [More]
More Obituaries
- Lance Robert Minchew ~ 07-26-1971 to 04-24-2026
- John Marvin Arnold ~ 05-13-1932 to 05-01-2026
- Frank LeRoy Harlow ~ 01-23-1933 to 04-30-2026
- James (Jim) Joseph Dent ~ 01-25-1945 to 04-28-2026
- Rex Alan Brown ~ 08-10-1959 to 04-25-2026
- Edward Lee Umphenour ~ 10-05-1943 to 04-26-2026
- Emily Donnell Brown Tinsley ~ 09-24-2931 to 04-24-2026
- Velma Fay (Cline) Peterson ~ 04-29-1944 to 04-15-2026
NEWS
Commissioners hire Economic Development Services Director
During the meeting held on Monday, May 11, the Linn County Commissioners entered into a 15-minute executive session for personnel matters for the purposes of interviewing for the Economic Development Services position. Following the session a motion was made to hire Ashlee Allen... [More]
USD 344 board sees gym floor design
The board of USD 344 met Monday night and saw new renderings of artwork that will adorn the high school gymnasium. Superintendent Don Epps shared drawings and said that namely, there will be one color of blue, rather than five like currently colors the gym. He said the... [More]
Mound City hears from McLiney on bond probability
Mound City hears from McLiney on bond probability By BARBARA PROFFITT Linn County News linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com Joey McLiney, McLiney and Co., spoke with the Mound City council during the May 5 meeting about financing options for the proposed utility... [More]
More News
- Pleasanton City Council denies appointment to police chief, city attorney, city administrator
- Commissioners hear ISO rating concerns
- Commissioners appoint interim fire chief and emergency management coordinator
- Commissioners question department heads on April 13 storms
- Pleasanton City Administrator announces retirement Aug. 3
- Linn Valley discussed storm shelters
- Couple survives home destruction from EF1 tornado
- Questions asked following storms that hit county
SPORTS
Prairie View softball has a busy week
The Prairie View softball team has been busy as they played a single game against Archie and double-headers against Anderson County and Osawatomie. The Lady Buffs defeated Archie 12-1 at home on April 30 and defeated Anderson County in both games, 26-17 and 18-6, on the road... [More]
Jayhawk baseball finishes regular season at 11-11 with a split against Uniontown
The Jayhawk Linn baseball team finished their regular season last week with a home double-header against Uniontown on May 7. The Hawks split against the Eagles winning the first game 18-8 and then losing the second game 7-10. This gave the Hawks an overall regular season record... [More]
Pleasanton track competes in tough Humboldt meet
The Pleasanton track team traveled to Humboldt on May 7 to compete in the Humboldt Invitational. This is a very tough meet that features 20 schools. The girls placed ninth with 17.5 points while the boys were 12th with 12 points. Here are the top individual results for the... [More]
More Sports
- Jayhawk track hosts home invitational
- Pleasanton track battles at Jayhawk
- Jayhawk baseball goes 4-0 against Erie and Yates Center
- Pleasanton sweeps St. Paul, splits against Uniontown
- Prairie View baseball 3-0 against Osage City and Butler
- Jayhawk baseball falls to Southeast Cherokee
- Prairie View baseball falls to Burlington and splits against Lebo
- Pleasanton baseball falls to Central Heights and Marmaton Valley
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