Linn County News
Published Sept. 13, 2023
Helen Y. Bruce, 93, of Pflugerville, Texas, went to be with Her Lord on Sept. 7, 2023. Services for Helen will be held on Friday Sept. 15, at Faith Chapel Assembly of God Church, 15000 Newton, Overland Park, Kan. Visitation from 10-11 a.m.; service at 11 a.m. Burial will be held later that day at 2 p.m. at the Woodland Cemetery, Mound City, Kan.
Helen loved to help others and spread joy and sunshine wherever she went. She was very active in her church, offering help and support to anyone in need. She loved to cook Sunday dinner for church friends and guests and loved sharing roses from her garden with friends. Though she lacked formal training (learning to play the piano by ear), she was passionate about playing the piano and singing, especially the hymns. Even as her memory faded in later years, she would continue to play the piano and sing and quote many scriptures.
Helen (known as BeBe to her family) was the youngest of six children born to Susie and Charlie Murray, born Aug. 16, 1930, in Versailles, Mo. Helen’s family would eventually settle in the area of Trading Post, Kan., where her family was active in farming. Following her graduation from Mound City High School in 1948, Helen became a hairdresser and worked and lived in the Country Club Plaza area of Kansas City. Helen married the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Bruce, in 1955, in Mound City, Kan. Helen’s proudest accomplishment was raising their three children - Jack, Charles (Chuck), and Julia (Julie).
After their wedding, Helen and Bob moved to Elk City, Okla., where Bob was stationed as a lieutenant in the Air Force. After completing their assignment there in 1957, they returned with their two sons to make their longtime home in the Kansas City area. Helen would later move her family to several states, including Louisiana, Texas, and California. Helen and Bob would eventually return to Overland Park, where they had raised their young family and built lifelong friendships. With Bob’s passing in 2018, Helen moved to Austin, Texas to be with her daughter and son-in-law.
Helen was a loving mother and wife and is survived by her three children and their spouses, Jack and Stephanie Bruce of Jacksonville, Fla., Chuck and Kayla Bruce of Leawood, Kan., and Julie and Alvie Nichols of Pflugerville, Texas. Helen was a caring grandmother to her five grandchildren: Rebecca Comeaux (San Antonio, Texas), Robert Bruce (Baldwin City, Kan.), Anne Heart (Nederland, Colo.), Kimmie Bruce (Jacksonville, Fla.), and Danny Bruce (Jacksonville, Fla.); and her six great-grandchildren: Olivia Bruce, Dylan Bruce, Jove Heart, Selen Heart, Estelle Comeaux, and Marcel Comeaux. Helen was preceded in death by her siblings, June O’Rourke, Judy Dunavan, LaVerne Murray, Marvin Murray, and L.D. Murray.
Helen Bruce, you were a good and faithful servant to God. Enter into the joy of your Lord!
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
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

