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
Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith passed away Saturday June 7, 2025, at the Stoneybrook Retirement Community in Manhattan. She was born on Nov. 19, 1935, in Topeka, Kan., to Neil and Gladys (Goldsmith)... [More]
Ron Arbogast ~ 08-31-1946 to 06-05-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Ron Arbogast, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, coach, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on June 5, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was 78. Born Aug. 31, 1946, in Fort Scott, Kan.,... [More]
Richard “Dick” Smith ~ 04-18-1942 to 06-22-2025

Linn County News Published June 25, 2025 Richard "Dick" Smith, age 83, formerly of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away in Olathe, Kan., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Graveside Service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Pleasanton Cemetery. Contributions... [More]
More Obituaries
- 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
- Rees Lyle Shattuck 08-31-1931 to 05-26-2025
- Dixie Bradley Wilkerson 10-15-1939 to 05-30-2025
- Gary Ray Johnson 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025
- Gary Ray Johnson ~ 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025
NEWS
NOTICE:

Due to a scheduling conflict, the commissioners will not be meeting today, June 25th, for a second budget workshop. The meeting has been rescheduled for July 2nd.
Tanglewood Lakes files suit against Board of County Commissioners

Requests declaratory judgement that roads are private The Tanglewood Lakes Owners Association, Inc. (TLOA), filed a lawsuit in Linn County District Court on June 6, 2025, against the Linn County Board of County Commissioners requesting a declaratory judgement from... [More]
Case filed alleging exploitation of minors, breach of privacy

On June 20, following an extensive investigation by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Linn County Attorney’s Office filed a case in district court charging Erik Hellner, a Sugar Valley Lakes resident, with six separate felonies. The case originally stems from... [More]
More News
- La Cygne executes pool bond defeasance
- CANCELED: Statewide Purple Alert issued for missing Yates Center woman
- Parker mayor seeks affidavits to file charges
- USD 346 board learns of overpayments
- NOTICE
- Commissioners discuss estimate on overlay project
- Pleasanton council meeting heated over fire personnel interviews
- La Cygne gas customers may see rate decrease
SPORTS
Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship

The Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team traveled to Wichita to compete in the Kansas Trapshooting State tournament. The tournament features more than 110 high schools and over 1,500 student athletes. Pleasanton/Jayhawk compete in the 2A competition which happened on June... [More]
Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad

Prairie View’s head boys’ wrestling Coach Joey Ewalt does more for the sport than just coaching the Buffalos, he has made an impact on the sport as a wrestler, coach and official. Ewalt began his wrestling career at the very young age of four. His father, Mike Ewalt,... [More]
More Sports
- 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
- Jayhawk track breaks another school record and qualifies multiple athletes for State
- School records and State qualifiers are made for the Jays at Eureka
- Prairie View track qualifies multiple athletes for State
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

