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
John Ted Miles ~ 01-29-1960 to 05-01-2025

Linn County News Published May 14, 2025 John Ted Miles passed away suddenly May 1, 2025, at the Guest Home Estates Assisted Living Facility in Fort Scott, Kan. He lived at 9 N. Hillside Drive, Holiday Lakes, before his battle with diabetes caused blindness and a... [More]
Zachary Eldon White ~ 06-12-1992 to 04-29-2025

Linn County News Published May 7, 2025 Zachary Eldon White, 32, of Mound City, Kan., died on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. He was born on June 12, 1992, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Roger and Jessica Smith White. He graduated from Jayhawk Linn High School in the Class... [More]
Rebecca S. Landers 12-30-1964 to 04-18-2025

Linn County News Published May 7, 2025 Rebecca S. Landers, 60, wife of Troy Landers, passed away Friday, April 18, 2025, at the Horton House in Fort Scott, Kan. She was born Dec. 30, 1964, in Ottawa, Kan., the daughter of Maurice Edward Zimmerman and Sarah Ellen... [More]
More Obituaries
- Ira Johnathan “Sonny” Robinson ~ 04-10-1944 to 04-26-2025
- Paul Dean Benham ~ 09-23-1944 to 04-26-2025
- Bonnie Faye Bishop ~ 03-25-1949 to 04-22-2025
- Lois A. Murray ~ 11-03-1931 to 04-20-2025
- Dr. Howard F. Wilson ~ 02-05-1938 to 04-20-2025
- 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
NEWS
Commissioners discuss effects of city disbandment of fire department

During the Public Works report at the May 5 meeting Linn County Commissioners heard a brief report on mutual aid agreements for the Linn County Rural Fire Department and what effect the possible disbandment of the Pleasanton Fire Department will have on the county. District... [More]
Blue Mound discusses financing options for water tower project

Members of the Blue Mound City Council heard from Tom Fingers of Midwest Assistance Program and Joey McLiney from McLiney and Company concerning options for financing the water tower on Monday, May 5, for their regular monthly meeting. The city has received a grant... [More]
La Cygne leaders contemplate sales tax adjustment

After bond defeasance, election would be required to alter stated fund focus By all appearances, La Cygne voters may not be far away from seeing a ballot proposal to alter the stated focus for one of its two 1-cent city sales taxes. Information at the two regular... [More]
More News
- Fire department public hearing nets crowd
- County counselor issues statement on Tanglewood roads
- Linn Valley City Council ends discussion with SEKMHC on building
- SPECIAL: Legislative Update
- 16 criminal cases from Tanglewood Lake incident dismissed
- Tanglewood seeks clarification, aid from county
- Commission workshop hears of justification for SEKMHC CEO $600,000 salary
- La Cygne police get automatic plate readers
SPORTS
Prairie View track has a great day as they host home invitational

The Prairie View track team hosted their home invitational on May 1. The Buffalos did very well as the girls won the meet with a score of 142 and the boys placed second with a score of 92. Central Heights won the meet for the boys with a score of 103. Once again, the Buffalos... [More]
Jayhawk track places top three at Prairie View

The Jayhawk Linn track team traveled to Prairie View on May 1 to compete in the Prairie View Invitational. The Hawks did well at the event as the girls placed second overall with 124 points while the boys placed third overall with 89 points. Here are the individual... [More]
More Sports
- Jayhawk hosts home track invitational
- Prairie View track competes at Jayhawk Invitational
- Pleasanton baseball sweeps St. Paul and falls to Uniontown
- Jayhawk track wins the Pleasanton Invitational
- Pleasanton track places in top three at home invitational
- Prairie View track has multiple gold winners at Anderson County, top athletes compete at KU Relays
- Jayhawk baseball earns first victories of the season
- Pleasanton boys’ and girls’ track teams win Oswego Invitational
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

