Known as Dee, she was born in Ridgeway, Mo., April 28, 1938, to Dorothy and Jasper Simpson. They moved to California then back to Kansas City, Kan., in 1942 when her father took a position with North American Aviation. Her father retired from the Kansas City Kansas Board of Education in 1979 as a teacher and administrator.
Dee attended Roosevelt Grade School and graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1955.
Dee and Ralph Dugan Cowan were married on March 9, 1957.
They had four children: Cheryl Willis, Overland Park, Kan.; Laura Kyle, Drexel, Mo.; Ronald Cowan, La Cygne, Kan.; and Michael Cowan, Overland Park, Kan.
Four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Surviving also is her brother Jasper Simpson, Kansas City, Kan.
Dee was involved in Ralph’s businesses while raising four children and was always at Ralph’s side supporting him in every way.
During the 18 years Ralph raced cars all over the Midwest, she and the kids traveled with him and they were always there for “Dad.” Dee was always sacrificing her needs to be supportive to Ralph and the kids. It was always family first.
Dee and Ralph moved from Kansas City, Kan., in 1966 to Leawood, Kan., where they lived until moving to the La Cygne area where they built a house in 1983.
Dee was an Amateur Radio Operator (HAM) for 25 years, achieving the highest license available from the FCC.
She and Ron have organized the radio club’s Hamfest open house every February at La Cygne’s Community Building for 18 years.
A malignant tumor was detected December 8, 2017, and removed from her colon on January 4, 2018. Dee was otherwise very healthy and with much deliberation she and Ralph chose to follow the doctors’ suggestions and had her first chemotherapy on March 7th of this year. There was the “normal” nausea that goes with this treatment. Otherwise no problems surfaced. Her second treatment on March 21st caused negative effects and on March 25th she was admitted to St. Luke’s emergency room with the symptoms of a chemo reaction. She was eventually diagnosed with Febrile Neutropenia, a condition known to be caused by chemotherapy treatment. It has a 96 percent mortality rate.
She fought very hard to save her life but it slipped away every day for 23 days. She passed away April 17th at 10:43 p.m. at St. Luke’s South with her husband and children at her side.
No donations are suggested, but if you would like to do something for your loved ones, have them consider all options and all possibilities of any negative effects before they subject themselves to any type of chemotherapy. There is a very good chance Dee would have lived many good years if the choice had not been to try chemotherapy.
She will be missed by anyone who knew her; she was
“Special”, not many made like her.
Arrangements by
Schneider Funeral Home. Family only service, burial in Brooklyn
Cemetery.
OBITUARIES
Letha Spillman ~ 06-19-1929 to 10-02-2025

Linn County News Published October 8, 2025 Letha Spillman, age 96, of Kincaid, Kan., passed away at her home on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Letha Nadine Miller was born on June 19, 1929, in Blue Mound, Kan. Letha was born on the farm that was homesteaded by her grandfather.... [More]
Mary Alice Fagg ~ 07-30-1933 to 09-25-2025

Linn County News Published October 8, 2025 Mary Alice Fagg, age 92, formerly of Garnett, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, at Fort Scott Presbyterian Village in Fort Scott, Kan. Mary Alice Cash was born on July 30, 1933, the daughter of Cecil and May (Augur)... [More]
John T. Miles ~ 01-29-1960 to 05-01-2025

Linn County News Published October 8, 2025 John T. Miles, age 65, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Thursday, May 1, 2025. A celebration of John’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, “down in the boonies” at the whirlpool on... [More]
More Obituaries
- Paul David Hamilton ~ 11-07-1950 to 09-23-2025
- Lora Lynn West ~ 10-22-1959 to 09-24-2025
- Lois Ann Simons ~ 11-12-1937 to 09-27-2025
- Betty Joan Haupt ~ 10-03-1931 to 09-29-2025
- Carolyn Lee Wilson Dunlop ~ 12-15-1944 to 09-27-2025
- Angie Yeates Randall ~ 06-22-1967 to 09-22-2025
- William Howard Hansuld ~ 04-17-1960 to 09-19-2025
- Bernita Mae Ala ~ 02-28-1921 to 09-17-2025
NEWS
Suit filed in Sunshine Meadows building permit case

A court case has been filed in the 6th Judicial District in Linn County by Parker resident Jan Longenecker and 26 other plaintiffs against the Board of Zoning Appeals of Linn County to revoke building permits issued by the acting Zoning Administrator Ben Souza. Souza... [More]
Pleasanton demos asphalt zipper for street repair

The Pleasanton City Council and street crew had the opportunity to watch a live demonstration of an asphalt zipper last Wednesday on 8th Street between Cedar and Sycamore – a street with heavily damaged asphalt. Dave Fokken, Asphalt Zipper Government Sales rep, said many... [More]
La Cygne awards lift station bid

Generator emphasis is the final step in the $6.261 million wastewater project La Cygne leaders awarded a bid to replace every diesel-powered generator at the city’s three sewer lift stations to a Kansas City, Mo., firm. At last Wednesday’s regular meeting,... [More]
More News
- Appraiser’s office announces completion of review
- SPECIAL: KBI conducts statewide marijuana enforcement operation
- Pleasanton council vetoed on fire volunteer appointments
- Kansas Policy Institute talks property taxes with legislature
- Pleasanton city candidate forum Oct. 6
- County logo sees little change
- Linn County P&Z Appeals Board denies subdivision appeal
- Commissioners discuss suggestion to leave EDA position vacant
SPORTS
Lady Jays host league triangular and competes at Uniontown

The Pleasanton volleyball team had a busy week. First the team hosted a Three Rivers League triangular on Sept. 30 against Jayhawk Linn and Altoona Midway. Then on Oct. 4 the team traveled to Uniontown for the Uniontown Volleyball Invitational. To see the full article, check... [More]
Jayhawk volleyball has a busy successful week

The Jayhawk volleyball team was busy this past week as they had games on Sept. 30, Oct. 2, and Oct. 4. They traveled to Pleasanton on Sept. 30 to play a TRL triangular against Pleasanton and Altoona Midway. Then on Oct. 2 they hosted TRL foes Chetopa and Oswego. Then on Oct.... [More]
Jayhawk football wins thriller over Pleasanton on Homecoming

The Jayhawk Linn football team had a big game this past Friday on Oct. 3. Not only was it their Homecoming game but it was also a TRL/District game against their in-county rival the Pleasanton Blu-Jays. Both teams played hard and one could tell that both teams really wanted... [More]
More Sports
- Prairie View football dominates Burlington on Homecoming
- Pleasanton volleyball travels to Arma and Prairie View
- Jayhawk volleyball goes 4-0 on the week
- Pleasanton volleyball competes at Yates Center and Humboldt
- Prairie View football picks up a big win against Wellsville
- Jayhawk volleyball has a solid week going 3-0
- Seasoned Olpe powers over young 'Hawks
- Wade and Schneider start impressive girls’ golf season for the Buffalos and Hawks
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com
