John Raymond Clayton, 89, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., left the loving care of his family to peacefully begin his journey home to be with the Lord on Nov. 7, 2015, at the Fort Scott Medicalodge.
John was born March 18, 1926, in Mapleton, Kan., the son of George E. Clayton and Minnie F. Cook Clayton.
He leaves behind his loving wife Betty Lou (Edgar), of 69 blessed happy years. They were married following John’s service with the Navy during WWII on June 22, 1946, in Fort Scott after meeting on a blind date.
In addition to his wife, Betty, of the home, his survivors include a son, Jimmy Lee Clayton and wife, Janet, of Holton, Kan.; and a daughter, Sarah Lou Kettler and husband, Hubert, of Lawrence, Kan. He had four wonderful grandchildren, Jennifer Hutfles, Matthew Clayton, Lara Sursa, and Jill Reynolds. They provided him with 11 great-grandchildren.
Also surviving is a brother, Bobby Clayton and wife, Betty, of Mapleton; and a sister, Wilma Underwood, of Fort Scott. He leaves behind to cherish his memory many other relatives and friends who loved him dearly.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Mildred Farris and Marie Hueston.
John was a devoted, loving husband, father, brother, grandpa, great-grandpa, uncle and friend. He taught his children and grandchildren to be kind, honest, respectful, good and loving. He was loved and admired for the wonderful man he was in life and respected by all who knew him. He liked to tell stories, hunt, fish, his draft horses and nature. John graduated from Fulton High School with the class of 1944. He was in the Navy during WWII. He worked various jobs throughout his life but retired in 1991 from USD #234, working in maintenance and as a bus driver. He was a member of the Mapleton Christian Church, a 63-year member of the Rising Sun Lodge #8 A.F. & A.M. and a 65-year member of the V.F.W. John will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial followed in the U.S. National Cemetery where Masonic rites were conducted by the Rising Sun Lodge and military honors provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars. Memorials are suggested to the Mapleton United Methodist Church or the Medicalodge Activity Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
OBITUARIES
Kelly Kehl ~ 03-25-1938 to 06-28-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Kelly Kehl, age 87, of Mound City, Kan., passed away Saturday, June 28, 2025, at his rural Mound City home. Kelly was born March 25, 1938, south of Parker, Kan., to Keith (Tom) Emerson Kehl and Helen Edith (Giffin) Kehl. Kelly... [More]
Kandi Kay Cruse ~ 03-29-1958 to 06-27-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Kandi Kay Cruse passed away on June 27, 2025, at the age of 67 after a valiant battle with cancer. Born on March 29, 1958, in Colorado Springs, Colo., Kandi’s zest for life and carefree spirit were evident from an early age. She... [More]
Jessica Cae Pritchett ~ 08-30-1981 to 06-26-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Jessica Cae Pritchett age 43 of Parker, Kan., died Thursday, June 26, 2025, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday, July 6, 2025, at Eddy Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie, Kan. ... [More]
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- Jackie Junior “Jack” Hewitt ~ 07-17-1935 to 06-18-2025
- Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025
- Ron Arbogast ~ 08-31-1946 to 06-05-2025
- Richard “Dick” Smith ~ 04-18-1942 to 06-22-2025
- Charles Edwin Sutterby ~ 06-20-1951 to 06-19-2025
- Windfred Allen DeMott ~ 09-15-1940 to 06-07-2025
- Maxine Breuel ~ 11-20-1926 to 06-07-2025
- Richard Paul Henderson ~ 07-26-1950 to 06-01-2025
NEWS
special: SCOTUS agrees to hear Women's Sports Case

Case paves the way for states to continue to protect women and girl's athletic opportunities Topeka, Kan. July 3, 2025 - Today, the Supreme Court of the United States granted certiorari in Hecox v. Little and West Va., v. BPJ. Rep.... [More]
SPECIA;: Schmidt Votes to Cancel Massive Tax Hike, Secure Border, and Lower Federal Spending

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Derek Schmidt (KS-02) issued the following statement regarding passage of the budget reconciliation bill by the U.S. House of Representatives, also called the “One Big Beautiful Bill”: “Last November,... [More]
NOTICE:

The Linn County News and Linn County Printing offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, in honor of the holiday.
More News
- Pleasanton awarded $617,000 KDOT street grant
- Commissioners discuss development zoning appeals
- Questions on employee emails leads to lengthy discussion
- NOTICE:
- Tanglewood Lakes files suit against Board of County Commissioners
- Case filed alleging exploitation of minors, breach of privacy
- La Cygne executes pool bond defeasance
- CANCELED: Statewide Purple Alert issued for missing Yates Center woman
SPORTS
Gratton at Nationals

Pleasanton’s Ashton Gratton qualifies for the Adidas Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina after winning the 100 and 200 meter dashes in the KSHSAA 2A State tournament in Wichita on May 31. The Adidas Nationals took place from June 20-22 and Gratton did well in both the... [More]
Summer Ball Tournaments

The Parker 8-11 baseball team 1 places first in their league tournament at La Cygne on June 28. See more photos on page B1 of this week's edition.
More Sports
- Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship
- Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad
- Prairie View trapshooting competes at State
- Pleasanton and Jayhawk baseball on the 2025 All TRL team
- Jayhawk Linn softball has three All TRL unanimous selections
- Trenton Broyles leads Hawks at State track
- Prairie View track earns six medals at State
- Pleasanton’s Gratton wins two golds, sets meet record
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

