Linn County News
Published April 15, 2020
Juanita Mae Fann, age 90, of Parker, Kan., died Tuesday April 7, 2020 at her home.
Juanita was born Sept. 9, 1929, in Emporia, Kan. She was born to Jesse Clifford and Viola Beatrice (Hammond) Shaver. Juanita grew up in Emporia where she attended school, graduating with the Emporia High School Class of 1948.
During and after high school, Juanita worked for the local Woolworth store. Then in 1948, Juanita and Lewis Dean Parker Sr. were married in Emporia, Kan. Together they had two children , Rita and Lewis Dean, Jr.
After Dean got out of the military, the family moved to Wichita, Kan.,for a short time. They then moved back to Emporia where Juanita went back to work at the Woolworth. She also helped Dean at a gas station.
In 1974, Dean and Juanita moved to Reading, Kan. Juanita was still working at the Woolworth until a tornado caused it to close. She and Dean then purchased a grocery store/restaurant in Reading where she also had her ceramic shop, DJ’s Cottage Crafts. They owned and operated the store until 1989. Dean passed away in 1990.
In 1998, Juanita married Morgan Fann in Reading, Kan. They made their home in Reading until 2003 when they moved to Parker, Kan. Juanita continued her ceramics business, DJ’s Cottage Crafts, out of her home. Morgan passed in 2008.
Juanita was always busy. Over the years she taught many 4-H kids ceramics. People would bring their kids to her home to do ceramics. If she wasn’t busy with her ceramics, Juanita was quilting and baking. She was known for her homemade bread and cinnamon rolls. Juanita was an active member of the Reading and Parker United Methodist Church. She loved working at the food pantry at Parker UMC. Juanita was a Girl Scout Leader for years. She was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Iota Iota chapter and the Loyal Workers club. Most importantly, Juanita loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her first husband Dean Parker and her second husband Morgan Fann, her parents, her brother Clifford Jessie Shaver II, her sister Helen Louise Shaver and her half-sister Patricia Shaver and three long haired dachshunds all named Collette.
Survivors include daughter Rita Kerr and husband Al of Parker, Kan.; son Lewis Dean Parker, Jr. and wife Linda of Fort Lupton, Colo.; five grandchildren Jeffery Kerr and wife Roxanne, Bradley Kerr and girlfriend Christy, Evan Sugihara and wife Erica, Adam Sugihara and girlfriend Wendi and Melody Parker. Great-grandchildren Travis Kerr, Amber Arrasmith Kerr and wife Amanda, Ashley Kerr and boyfriend Ryan, Kaylee Parker, Destry Kerr, Weston Kerr, Quinn Sugihara, Lily Sugihara and great-great-grandson Aiden Allan James Kern; nieces and nephews Jesse Clifford Shaver III, Terry Kohler and Robin, Mary Schumacher and Stitch, Wayne Davidson, Jr. and Donna and John Davidson; along with other family and friends.
Graveside services were held for the family on April 10 at the Reading Cemetery, Reading, Kan. Memorials are to the Helping Hands & Heart Food Pantry send c/o Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home P.O. Box 430 Osawatomie, Kan., 66064.
OBITUARIES
Jean Driskell ~ 03-22-1943 to 07-18-2025

Linn County News Published July 23, 2025 Jean Driskell, age 82, formerly of La Cygne, Kan., passed away Friday, July 18, 2025. Memorial service will be held 7 p.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Schneider Funeral Home, La Cygne Chapel. Visitation... [More]
Burton Clyde Brownback ~ 05-21-1953 to 07-13-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Burton Clyde Brownback, age 72, Tri-Ko resident in Osawatomie, Kan., passed away Sunday, July 13, 2025. He was born on May 21, 1953, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Clyde and Shirley Drake Brownback. He graduated from Prairie View... [More]
Ruth Ann Antrim ~ 05-21-1951 to 07-07-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Ruth Ann Antrim, formerly Hueston, passed away July 7, 2025, after bravely battling cancer for many years. Ruth Ann was 74 years old. She lived and worked in the Mound City and Fort Scott, Kan., areas her... [More]
More Obituaries
- Helen Maxine Wright ~ 05-28-1939 to 06-19-2025
- Kelly Kehl ~ 03-25-1938 to 06-28-2025
- Kandi Kay Cruse ~ 03-29-1958 to 06-27-2025
- Jessica Cae Pritchett ~ 08-30-1981 to 06-26-2025
- 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
NEWS
Special: Resurfacing to begin on U.S. 69 in Linn County

A Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) resurfacing project on U.S. 69 in Linn County will begin the week of July 28. The project will resurface U.S. 69 with ultrathin bonded asphalt for just over 7 miles from Pleasanton to just north of... [More]
Pleasanton FD again at center of heated discussion

The majority of heated discussion came at the end of the Pleasanton City Council meeting Monday night during council discussion when Council people Bill Skipper and Angelina Randall squared off concerning the recent ISO inspection that occurred at the fire department. Skipper... [More]
La Cygne city to be below revenue neutral

Ad valorem revenue will decrease by almost $16,600, levy by over 7.6 mills The city of La Cygne will not only be revenue neutral but actually below neutral on its 2026 municipal budget. That was the report from Jodi Wade, city clerk, at last Wednesday’s regular... [More]
More News
- USD 362 files revenue-neutral exceedances
- Commissioners discuss airport future, request more information
- SPECIAL: Resurfacing on U.S. 59 in Anderson County to begin in August 4
- Commissioners vote to exceed revenue neutral
- Mulberry Limestone CUP approved by P & Z
- SPECIAL: Benefits question an issue for county employees
- Commissioners discuss various budgets
- City learns of fire gear condition
SPORTS
Pleasanton trapshooting team shows grit at National Championship

Eight members of the Pleasanton Trapshooting Team traveled to Mason, Mich., last week to compete in the USA Clay Target League National Championship. Five members participated in the team event, and all eight competed individually. The team was among 264 qualified teams competing... [More]
Blue Mound softball earns second place at Crest

The Blue Mound girls’ coach pitch team 1 places second at the TRL girls’ coach pitch tournament at Colony. The tournament took place from July 7 to July 9.
More Sports
- Nobodys wins Blue Mound co-ed softball tournament
- Pleasanton 12-14 baseball wins championship
- Gratton at Nationals
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- 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
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

