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
Merle A. Beckman ~ 10-05-1935 to 08-03-2022

Linn County News Published Aug. 10, 2022 Merle A. Beckman, age 86, Mound City, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. He was born in rural La Cygne, Kan., on Oct. 5, 1935, the son of Charles and Neeva (Neal) Beckman. He graduated from La Cygne Rural High School... [More]
Mary Jo Spencer ~ 11-13-1938 to 08-06-2022

Linn County News Published Aug. 10, 2022 Mary Jo Spencer, age 83, of Mound City, Kan., passed away on Aug. 6, 2022, at Louisburg Healthcare, Louisburg, Kan. She was born Nov. 13, 1938, in Terrell, Texas, to James Downing and Claudie Flower. Mary Jo moved to Lubbock, Texas,... [More]
Larry Sumners ~ 08-16-1953 to 08-01-2022

Linn County News Published Aug. 10, 2022 Larry Sumners, age 68, of Centerville, Kan., passed away on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, at the Overland Park Regional Medical Center in Overland Park, Kan. Laurence A. Sumners was born on Aug. 16, 1953, at McPherson,... [More]
More Obituaries
- Joseph Michael Dellinger 01-17-1950 to 08-20-2021
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- Vernon LeRoy “Roy” Massey 02-09-1922 to 10-07-2020
- Margaret Eileen Wier 02-15-1943 to 09-21-2020
- Elynor Ann Miller 08-28-1924 to 08-02-2020
- James J. Shannon Robinson 03-29-1980 to 08-01-2020
- Charles William “Bill” Atwood Jr. 05-31-1927 to 07-29-2020
NEWS
STARS technical academy ribbon cutting Friday

What was a dream a year ago has come to fruition with a ribbon cutting and open house scheduled for Friday, Aug. 12 at 10 a.m. The Southeastern Technical Academy for Rural Students (STARS) is now a reality located in the former Cox Motor Company building at Laurel and 17th Streets... [More]
Staff, advisors excited for opportunities STARS Academy offers students

With the ribbon cutting and open house of the new STARS Technical Academy in Pleasanton slated for Friday, Aug. 12, the staff and instructors at the school opened up recently about their roles and what the program means to them. Phil Mitchell, who will be teaching Construction... [More]
County real estate taxes still under state value

After sending the Linn County Commissioners an email explaining county real estate compliance with state values, the commissioners visited with Linn County Appraiser Kathy Bridges Monday. After initial conversation on the 2021 final ratio study concerning commercial and residential... [More]
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SPORTS
Demo Derby starts off Linn County Fair and Rodeo week

The Linn County Fair and Rodeo started this past week with the traditional demolition derby. There were two nights of demo derby action as team derby, modified and figure eight races took place on Aug. 5 while the compact, semi-modified and bone stock took place on the evening... [More]
Total Effect Softball ready for action

Linn County has a new competitive softball team, Total Effect Softball, which will be based out of Mound City. Jayhawk-Linn head softball coach Kris Holt started the team and will be the head coach of Total Effect. Holt had multiple reasons on why he wanted to start a competitive... [More]
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- Pleasanton track competes at Jayhawk Invitational
- Pleasanton baseball starts season with a pair of walk-off thrillers against Oswego
- Prairie View, Pioneer League ponder Baldwin addition

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