Jesse Lee Earnest, age 62, was born Jan. 22, 1952 at Mercy Hospital, Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Jesse E. and Ola May (Callahan) Earnest. His father was in Korea at his birth, so Jesse did not know him until he was almost a year old. Jesse passed away Sept. 13, 2014, at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kan.
Jesse grew up on the family farm southeast of Pleasanton with his two brothers, Bill and Rod and two sisters Linda and Diana and many uncles, aunts and cousins who visited often. He loved animals and had many pets and birds, even a pet goose he named "Chester" who often returned to the farm after he joined a flock of wild geese.
Jesse attended grade school at Prescott School, Special Education at La Cygne and the Triko sheltered workshop. He spent many years at the Linn County Museum in Pleasanton, with his mother, other volunteers and his best friend Kenton. Jesse often helped visitors tour the museum. He read many books and loved history, especially the Civil War, he also participated in the reenactment of the Battle of Mine Creek.
Jesse was a kind and loving person who never knew a stranger and liked everyone he met. One of his hobbies was colleting cameras, many given to him by friends. He always had a camera with him and took photos of old barns, parades, tractors, old machinery, horses and the places he visited. At last count he had 60-70 albums of photos and articles he had compiled. He also loved going to Marty Read's auctions, garage sales, collecting toy trains, tractors, puzzles, and watching old western movies.
Jesse was preceded in death by his grandfather, Marion Callahan whom he dearly loved; father, Jesse Earnest; aunt, Faye Cowley, uncle, Lee Callahan, and aunt Mary Ann Callahan.
He is survived by his mother, Ola May; brothers, Bill and wife Retta, Rod and wife Robin; sisters Linda and Craig Wood, and Diana and Wayne Schasteen; many nieces and nephews; and many friends who will miss him.
A celebration of his life will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Burial will be in the Littell Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Tuesday at the Pleasanton Chapel. The family suggests contributions to Linn County Sharing Bucket. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.
Check out this week's edition of the Linn County News or check out the online edition here.
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
