Jim Norton never met a stranger and was a true friend to everyone who knew and loved him.
Jim died unexpectedly Feb. 14, 2015. He was born Nov. 11, 1944, to Maxine and Junior Norton. He was a joy to his parents and learned to love the land and all of nature from them. He drove a tractor by age ten and worked many days alongside his dad on their farm east of La Cygne, Kan. Jim was active in 4-H, sports and music and graduated from La Cygne High school in 1962. Jim took over the family farm that year after the death of his father. In the late 1960s, Jim moved to Texas and began a successful career selling commercial real estate. He was actively involved in that business until his untimely death.
Jim’s hobbies were football, cooking and travel. He and his wife, Carol, found their paradise in Belize and spent wonderful times there with new friends and family. His chicken fried steaks were a favorite with his Belize friends. He loved to cook for friends and family and most weekends found him and Carol entertaining with a lovely view of Lake Dallas as the backdrop. Jim enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest every day. Many wonderful family memories were made during his seventy years.
Jim was preceded in death by his father, Harry Norton Jr.; mother, Maxine Norton Mooney; stepfather, Harold Mooney Jr.; stepbrother, Robert Mooney; grandparents, Earl and Ida Miller, and Harry and Bonnie Norton.
He is survived by his wife Carol Norton; daughters, Jamie Norton Chambers and husband Jerry of La Cygne, Jill Norton VanLerberg of Spring Hill, Heather Norton Seward and husband Scott of Windermere, Fla.; stepdaughters, Fionna of Dallas and Eileen McEvoy of Houston; sister Beverly Norton Awalt and husband John of Fairfield, Texas; brother, Larry Mooney and wife Jeanette of Paola; eight grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and his beloved pets.
Services will be held at the Schneider Funeral Home in La Cygne, Kan., 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. and the service at 2 p.m. Interment is at Oak Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association or a charity of choice.
On line condolences for the family may be left at www.schneider funerals.com. Arrangements: Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, La Cygne Chapel.
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]
More News
- Commission workshop hears of justification for SEKMHC CEO $600,000 salary
- La Cygne police get automatic plate readers
- Notice
- Public comment results in allegations of unethical behavior
- Parker reinstates local policing
- Two charged following vehicular incident in Parker
- 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
OBITUARIES POLICY
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

