June LaVeigh Fossey passed away on Friday morning, July 18, 2014 at her home in Mound City, Kan., at the age of 97 years and 3 months. She was born at Prescott, Kan., on April 18, 1917 to Anton and Mary Brown Smith.
After graduating from Prescott High School at the age of 17, she passed the county teacher examination. That fall, her first teaching job was at a one-room school three miles east of Prescott called Indian Creek School. June went on to teach at Prescott, Mapleton and finally at Mound City where she retired from in 1979 after teaching 45 years. During this time, she received her master’s degree from Pittsburg State Teacher’s College. Literally hundreds of children have benefited from her dedication to teaching.
June and her husband, Leighton, were avid antique collectors. They both enjoyed traveling and going to antique shows and auctions all over the United States searching for rare and unique antiques.
Music was very prominent in June’s life. She started playing the piano at age eight and was still playing last week. Three things were top on her list of importance: family, friends, and education. Not having children herself, her nieces and nephews (for several generations) became her kids.
As for friends, she had many. Not just her neighbors but her church family and in several organizations that she belonged to as well.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Leighton Fossey in March of 2003, her parents, and two brothers, Anton (Bub) Smith, Jr. and Clayton Smith.
She is survived by her stepdaughter, Mildred Reed of Hutchinson, Kan.; a niece, Sharon Carbon of Mound City and a nephew, Rex Smith and wife Raquel of Garnerville, Nev.; as well as two grandchildren, Nathan Reed and wife Suzanne and Amanda Reed-Knapple and husband Jared; plus six great-grandchildren and 10 great-nieces and nephews; and 10 great-great nieces and nephews and 10 great-great-great nieces and nephews.
Her generosity and love will be missed by many, many people.
Thank you, Lord, for letting us enjoy June for as long as you did.
June will be laid to rest in Prescott, Kan. where she grew up.
Funeral service was held Monday at the Mound City Christian Church. Burial was in the Prescott Cemetery. The family suggests contributions to the church. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com. Arrangements: Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Mound City Chapel.
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
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

