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
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]
Helen Maxine Wright ~ 05-28-1939 to 06-19-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Helen Maxine Wright, age 86, formerly of Blue Mound, Kan., passed away at her home in Abbyville, Kan., on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Funeral service was held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 7, 2025, at the Community... [More]
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]
More Obituaries
- 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
- Charles Edwin Sutterby ~ 06-20-1951 to 06-19-2025
- Windfred Allen DeMott ~ 09-15-1940 to 06-07-2025
NEWS
Commissioners discuss various budgets

SEKMHC in mix At the end of a meeting attended by two of the three commissioners, a discussion was held regarding several of the proposed budgets for next year. Commissioners Alison Hamilton and Jim Johnson first discussed the proposed budget for Southeast Kansas Mental Health.... [More]
City learns of fire gear condition

Pleasanton Fire Department ISO inspection July 16 Following the appointment of new Fire Chief Jimmy Watts as Pleasanton Fire Chief, the Pleasanton Council heard of the condition of bunker gear Monday night at their bi-weekly meeting. Watts reported the truck ran with the... [More]
La Cygne leaders discuss food truck follow-up

Police chief to draft updated clarifying ordinance La Cygne leaders anticipate considering a draft ordinance soon on transient food trucks following discussion at last Wednesday’s regular council meeting precipitated by a local business owner’s complaint last month.... [More]
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- special: SCOTUS agrees to hear Women's Sports Case
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- NOTICE:
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- Commissioners discuss development zoning appeals
- Questions on employee emails leads to lengthy discussion
- NOTICE:
- Tanglewood Lakes files suit against Board of County Commissioners
SPORTS
Nobodys wins Blue Mound co-ed softball tournament

The team called Nobodys wins the Blue Mound 4th of July co-ed softball tournament on July 5. This year the tournament consisted of eight teams. The Nobodys is Keith Morrell’s team and has been a part of the softball tournament since it started three years ago.
Pleasanton 12-14 baseball wins championship

The Pleasanton 12-14 baseball team wins their league tournament on June 30 to July 1. Pleasanton hosted the tournament and won in the championship against La Cygne 11-7.
More Sports
- 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
- 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
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

