Linn County News
Published Jan. 9, 2019
Harold Eugene McWilliams, 89, of Urich, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019 at Urich First Baptist Church, 502 N. Main St., Urich.
Gene was the oldest of six children, born to Harold and Elsie Wilson McWilliams. He was born June 6, 1929, in Beacon, Iowa, and later moved with his family to Kansas City. He was drafted and served in the United States Army during the Korean War where he served three years working as an equipment operator.
Eugene was united into marriage to Helen Ousley Peoples on June 6, 1960.They later bought a farm south of Louisburg. Gene worked for Leaseway Trucking for many years until they closed the business due to a flood. He worked until retirement for the Shawnee Mission School District in the parts department.
Gene and Helen traveled to Texas as winter Texans for many years, enjoying the RV life and their many friends. Gene and Helen returned to Urich just seven months ago to live with their children on the farm.
Gene enjoyed family get-togethers, playing cards with his family, gardening, using his many tools, collecting wood for the winter, family dinners together, as well as bluegrass music.
Gene came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ gift of grace in his 70s. He currently worshipped at Urich First Baptist Church.
He is preceded in death by his parents; daughter Gayle Ann McWilliams; his brother, Jim McWilliams; and a sister, Beverly Davis.
Survivors include his wife Helen McWilliams of Urich; sons Howard McWilliams, Urich, Ed Peoples, Grandview, Mo., and Richard Peoples, Fort Scott; one daughter, Arlene Watrous, Pleasanton; and all their families.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Urich First Baptist Church c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary Louisburg Chapel, P.O. Box 669, Louisburg, KS 66053.
To leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.dengelmortuary.com.
Arrangements: Dengel & Son Mortuary Louisburg Chapel, 120 S. Broadway, Louisburg, KS 66053.
OBITUARIES
Bonnie Faye Bishop ~ 03-25-1949 to 04-22-2025

Linn County News Published April 30, 2025 Bonnie Faye Bishop, age 76, Olathe, Kan., passed away Tuesday, April 22, 2025. She was born on March 25, 1949, in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of William and Imogene Krueger Carter. After graduating from high... [More]
Lois A. Murray ~ 11-03-1931 to 04-20-2025

Linn County News Published April 30, 2025 Lois A. Murray, age 93, formerly of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Overland Park, Kan. Lois was born the daughter of Arlie and Winifred Stanhope Poindexter on Nov. 3, 1931, near Drexel, Mo.... [More]
Dr. Howard F. Wilson ~ 02-05-1938 to 04-20-2025

Linn County News Published April 23, 2025 Dr. Howard F. Wilson, age 87, of Garnett, Kan., passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at St. Luke’s South Hospital in Overland Park, Kan. Howard Frank Wilson was born on Feb. 5, 1938, in Garden City, Mo. He was the... [More]
More Obituaries
- Anna Louise Stites ~ 09-27-1946 to 04-13-2025
- Sandra Kay “Sandy” Crooks ~ 01-08-1949 to 04-13-2025
- Richard Lee Keaton ~ 01-29-1935 to 04-05-2025
- Linda Ann Pruitt ~ 05-08-1953 to 04-07-2025
- Ira “Sonny” Ray Caruthers, Jr. ~ 05-23-1955 to 04-02-2025
- Michelle Lynn Young ~ 05-20-1967 to 04-04-2025
- Phyllis Sybil Colbert ~ 11-23-1935 to 03-28-2025
- Joseph Francis “Mr. Joe” Cunningham ~ 03-17-1967 to 03-31-2025
NEWS
SPECIAL: Legislative Update

April 18, 2025 Kansas Land and Military Installation Protection Act, SB 9, prohibits foreign adversaries from purchasing property within 100 miles of a military installation and any foreign adversary ownership of non-residential real property purchased prior to July 1, 2025,... [More]
16 criminal cases from Tanglewood Lake incident dismissed

Late Wednesday afternoon, April 16, orders were filed dismissing all 16 current cases on file in Linn County District Court concerning the Tanglewood Lake gate incident, 14 of which were filed against separate individuals that stemmed from the incident in May 2023. According... [More]
Tanglewood seeks clarification, aid from county

During the April 21 meeting, Linn County Commissioner Jason Hightower reported to his fellow board members that he had met with the Tanglewood Lake board president and a resident the previous week and noted that they wanted a resolution or motion that clarified if the roads are... [More]
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- Notice
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- Pleasanton approves zoning request
- La Cygne leaders talk future street improvements
SPORTS
Jayhawk track wins the Pleasanton Invitational

The Jayhawk Linn track team traveled to Pleasanton on April 15 for the Pleasanton Invitational. The Hawks did very well as both the boys’ and girls’ teams won the meet. The girls won with a score of 188 points while the boys won with a score of 127 points. There were... [More]
Pleasanton track places in top three at home invitational

The Pleasanton track team hosted their home invitational on April 15. The Jays did well as both the boys’ and girls’ teams placed in the top three out of nine teams. The boys were second with 92 points while the girls were third with 107.5 points. “It was... [More]
More Sports
- Jayhawk baseball earns first victories of the season
- Pleasanton boys’ and girls’ track teams win Oswego Invitational
- Prairie View softball falls in league contest to Iola
- Prairie View softball drops close games against Santa Fe Trail
- Pleasanton baseball falls to Southeast Cherokee and Marmaton Valley
- Jayhawk softball splits against Central Heights
- Prairie View softball starts season 3-1
- Pleasanton baseball opens season 2-2 against Oswego and Crest
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

