Linn County News
Published Sept. 27, 2017
Jane Evelyn (Hayden) Kelley, age 88, of Mound City, Kan., died Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, at Prescott Country View Nursing Home in Prescott, Kan. She was born Nov. 2, 1928, to Augustus William Hayden and Victoria Friedel (Hinkle) Hayden in Los Angeles, Calif., the middle of three sisters.
Her family home was a half block from the beach at Santa Monica. She grew up with a love of the ocean and learned to swim at an early age.
She met her future husband, Don Kelley, on a blind date at a beach party on Malibu Beach in 1946. In July 1947 she accepted his marriage proposal and in February of 1948 she rode a train to New Orleans. They were married the next day in Biloxi, Miss., where Don was stationed with the U.S. Air Force.
They went on to have two daughters, and the family traveled extensively during his 21-year Air Force career. Don and Jane settled in Mound City in 1975.
While living in Mound City, Jane was employed as both Extension Office and Linn County Fair secretary. The highlight of her employment as fair secretary was meeting Garth Brooks.
She was a longtime member of Mound City United Methodist Church and she loved dancing with the Country Ramblers Square Dance Club. Before her health began to deteriorate, she was active in the Eastern Star, holding a Grand Office in 1995.
Jane will be remembered for her kind heart and sweet demeanor. She took great pride in her family members’ accomplishments, especially Don’s military achievements. She was extremely proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, always ready with a picture to share.
Jane is survived by Don, her husband of 69 years, Mound City; daughters Linda Friedman (Bill Peters), Mapleton, and Donna Parker (Rick), Mound City; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by several brothers and sisters-in-law as well as many nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters, son-in-law Wes Friedman and great-granddaughter Kelley Tupin.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, at Mound City United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held 10 a.m. to service time. Memorial contributions may be made to the church.
OBITUARIES
Norma Jeanne (Riley) Long ~ 08-21-1938 to 10-13-2025

Linn County News Published October 22, 2025 Norma Jeanne (Riley) Long, age 87, of La Cygne, Kan., passed away Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, at Vintage Park in Osawatomie, Kan., surrounded by family. Norma was born on Aug. 21, 1938, in Liberal, Kan., to Frederick and... [More]
Geneva Darlene Jennings ~ 11-15-1939 to 10-12-2025

Linn County News Published October 15, 2025 Geneva Darlene Jennings, age 85, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. She was born on Nov. 15, 1939, at Trading Post, Kan., the daughter of Charles and Daisy Rittinghouse Purdy. She graduated from Pleasanton High... [More]
Mary Margaret Wilson ~ 01-08-1930 to 10-13-2025

Linn County News Published October 15, 2025 Mary Margaret Wilson of Mound City, Kan., age 95, was called home to be with the Lord Oct. 13, 2025. She resided at the Anew Healthcare facility in Pleasanton, Kan. She was born in La Cygne, Kan., to Edwin Josheph Riley and Eva... [More]
More Obituaries
- Letha Spillman ~ 06-19-1929 to 10-02-2025
- Mary Alice Fagg ~ 07-30-1933 to 09-25-2025
- John T. Miles ~ 01-29-1960 to 05-01-2025
- 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
NEWS
Souza resigns county clerk post

Linn County’s county clerk is resigning. At the weekly Linn County Commission meeting Tuesday morning, delayed a day because of Monday’s governmental Columbus Day holiday, Danielle Souza spoke during the public comment agenda section of her intention to resign the... [More]
Farmers State Bank under new ownership

Time moves on and things change – and the banking world is not exempt from those changes. When Farmers State Bank owner Dale Sprague passed away in August of 2024, his wife Janice and family made those changes when they sold the three banks this fall to Citizen Bank owner’s... [More]
Linn Valley council updated on water, lagoon projects

Linn Valley city council held its first meeting of the month on Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Mayor Lewis Donelson began the meeting by asking city employees present at the meeting to stand up front and introduce themselves and state their job title. The mayor continued by... [More]
More News
- Suit filed in Sunshine Meadows building permit case
- Pleasanton demos asphalt zipper for street repair
- La Cygne awards lift station bid
- 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
SPORTS
Schneider makes State for Hawks in girls’ golf

Celeste Schneider made the 3-1A State golf tournament again this year for the Lady Hawks and will be looking to earn another State medal. To see the full article, check out this week's edition of the Linn County News or check out the online version here.
Wade and Britz advance to State for the Buffalos

The Prairie View girls’ golf team is doing well. The girls won the Pioneer League championship at Deer Trace on Oct. 7 and then followed that up by placing fourth at 3-1A Sub-State tournament at Crestwood in Pittsburg on Oct. 13. The Lady Buffs won the league tournament... [More]
Blu-Jays convert takeaways into Homecoming win

Pleasanton converted two second-quarter fumble recoveries and a third-quarter interception into passing touchdowns to break a three-game losing skid and claim a 41-6 Homecoming win over Southeast-Cherokee Friday at Blu-Jay Nation Stadium. The victory moves the ‘Jays’... [More]
More Sports
- Lady Jays host league triangular and competes at Uniontown
- Jayhawk volleyball has a busy successful week
- Jayhawk football wins thriller over Pleasanton on Homecoming
- 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
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com
