Linn County News
Published Jan. 10, 2018
Joyce Louella Lavin of Youngtown, Ariz., passed away on Jan. 4, 2018, after fighting a battle with cancer at the age of 68. Joyce was born on March 6, 1949, in St. Joseph, Mo., to Joseph Aubrian Brown and Mary Elaine Mattucks. Joyce grew up in Festus, Mo., and later moved to Arizona at the age of 14. Joyce had nine siblings, six of which she grew up with. Joyce spent the balance of her adult life in Arizona.
In April of 1966, Joyce met the love of her life Joe, and in August of that same year Joe and Joyce married.
Joyce had many jobs in her life including: being the best mom ever, babysitting, house cleaning and baking, and working as a bus assistant.
Joyce had many hobbies in her life she enjoyed such as sewing, crocheting, antiquing, quilting, reading and baking. Joyce and Joe traveled all over the U.S., meeting and enjoying new faces and personalities during the summer times, with Branson, Mo., being their favorite place to go and where they spent most of their summers meeting up with many friends and family members.
Joyce and Joe were active in the community as members of the Lions Club, Good Sam Club, Youngtown R.V. Club, and Friends of Peoria Libraries. Joyce was family-oriented and loved to spend free time with her family as well as very close friends.
Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Joseph J. Lavin; four daughters, Roxanne Hosino, Patricia Molyneux, Wanda Oakley and Theresa Conigliaro; nine grandchildren, Richard Gourley, Nichole Reyna, David (Jordyan Lapp-Rodriguez) and Destiny Molyneux, Alan Lavin-Oakley, CarriAnn and Abraham Oakley, and Charles and Matthew Conigliaro; and five great-grandchildren, Layla Appel, Faith, Gabriel, Marcelo Reyna and Kanon Smith.
Joyce was a remarkable woman and will be missed by so many! Goodnight!
A Celebration of Life will be held from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018, at Heritage Funeral Chapel at 6830 W. Thunderbird Road, Peoria, Ariz. 85381.
OBITUARIES
Morgan Leon Wakefield ~ 05-08-1996 to 09-09-2025

Linn County News Published September 17, 2025 Morgan Leon Wakefield was called home to heaven on September 9, 2025. Morgan was born May 8, 1996, in Olathe, Kan., to Shane and Debbie (Snyder) Wakefield of Mound City, Kan. From an early age, he showed a... [More]
Jackie “Jack” Howard Shroyer ~ 01-24-1940 to 09-04-2025

Linn County News Published September 10, 2025 Jackie "Jack" Howard Shroyer, age 85 of Prescott, Kan., passed away on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. Jack was born the son of Eugene and Lillie Ruth (Blangy) Shroyer on Jan. 24, 1940, in Prescott, Kan. He... [More]
Wallace “Mack” Probasco ~ 07-05-1959 to 09-02-2025

Linn County News Published September 10, 2025 Wallace “Mack” Probasco, age 66 of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away at his home on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. He was born the son of Francis Mack and Edna E. Wallace Probasco on July 5, 1959, in Fort Scott,... [More]
More Obituaries
- Martha F. Couch ~ 01-03-1929 to 07-18-2025
- George Teagarden ~ 01-30-1943 to 09-01-2025
- John Clayton Bowman ~ 02-01-1944 to 08-17-2025
- Arnold Joseph Lickteig ~ 05-16-1931 to 07-31-2025
- Joe W. Mann ~ 09-02-1951 to 07-26-2025
- Jean Driskell ~ 03-22-1943 to 07-18-2025
- Burton Clyde Brownback ~ 05-21-1953 to 07-13-2025
- Ruth Ann Antrim ~ 05-21-1951 to 07-07-2025
NEWS
SPECIAL: Mound City resident killed in Allen County crash

On Sept. 9, just after 5:30 p.m., emergency personnel were called to the scene of a two-car collision on U.S. Highway 169 just south of Humboldt, Kan., in Allen County. According to reports filed by the Kansas Highway Patrol, Morgan Wakefield of Mound City, was driving... [More]
Property taxes and how they work

In Kansas, there is a definitive process for determining what the property taxes are on any given piece of property. Did you know that according to SmartAsset.com Linn County has the second lowest property tax average in the entire state? According to information available... [More]
Pleasanton Fire Department personnel hiring questioned

What started out as a department update from Pleasanton Fire Chief Jeff Wisdom, turned into a showdown between councilmembers and the mayor in who was hired as volunteer firefighters in Pleasanton. Wisdom informed the council he was beginning training for new firefighters September... [More]
More News
- Commission ‘bares’ down to pass public nudity ban
- Paris Township voting location to move to Mound City
- USD 362 passes 2025-26 school budget
- Parker appoints police chief
- SPECIAL: Drainpipe replacement on K-31 in Linn County
- Linn County News website gets new update
- Commissioners vote 1-1 on motion to not exceed revenue neutral
- Linn Valley looks at option for fire truck purchase, new vehicles
SPORTS
Opening drive, opportunities spur 'Jays to 1st win
Start with an opening 12-play, 72-yard sustained scoring drive elapsing the game's first 6:27. Mix in heroics--first on special teams and then defensively--by sophomore Owen Miller. Top it off with touchdown passes from four-year signal-caller Kamden Staton to fellow seniors... [More]
Alvarez leads Pleasanton cross country

The Pleasanton cross country team traveled to Garnett for their first meet of the year on Sept. 4 at the Annual Jerry Howarter Invitational. The Jays had runners in both the junior high and high school races. Dominic Alvarez led the Hawks as he earned a medal and placed... [More]
Jayhawk football starts season with shutout over Central Heights

The Jayhawk Linn football team traveled to Fort Scott on Sept. 5 to host the Central Heights Vikings for their first game of the season. This was supposed to be a home game for the Hawks but had to be played at Fort Scott because the field was not ready. The game began with... [More]
More Sports
- Spradling era kicks off with oohhs and 'Oz'
- Frog gigging a new ‘old sport’
- Fishing Derby kicks off at Linn County Fair
- Linn County Farm Bureau hosts annual pedal pull
- From the Bleachers – 717
- Annual demo derby kicks off this year’s Linn County Fair and Rodeo
- From the Bleachers - 719
- Pleasanton trapshooting team shows grit at National Championship
OBITUARIES POLICY
• May be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered.
• Must be received by 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning in order to appear in that week's edition.
• Obituaries submitted by funeral homes will be billed to the funeral home.
• Full obituaries submitted by individuals are required to be paid in advance.
• Cost: $40 for 300 words or less. Each additional word over 300, 10¢. Photograph $5.
Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com
