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
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]
Kandi Kay Cruse ~ 03-29-1958 to 06-27-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Kandi Kay Cruse passed away on June 27, 2025, at the age of 67 after a valiant battle with cancer. Born on March 29, 1958, in Colorado Springs, Colo., Kandi’s zest for life and carefree spirit were evident from an early age. She... [More]
Jessica Cae Pritchett ~ 08-30-1981 to 06-26-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Jessica Cae Pritchett age 43 of Parker, Kan., died Thursday, June 26, 2025, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday, July 6, 2025, at Eddy Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie, Kan. ... [More]
More Obituaries
- 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
- Maxine Breuel ~ 11-20-1926 to 06-07-2025
- Richard Paul Henderson ~ 07-26-1950 to 06-01-2025
NEWS
special: SCOTUS agrees to hear Women's Sports Case

Case paves the way for states to continue to protect women and girl's athletic opportunities Topeka, Kan. July 3, 2025 - Today, the Supreme Court of the United States granted certiorari in Hecox v. Little and West Va., v. BPJ. Rep.... [More]
SPECIA;: Schmidt Votes to Cancel Massive Tax Hike, Secure Border, and Lower Federal Spending

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Derek Schmidt (KS-02) issued the following statement regarding passage of the budget reconciliation bill by the U.S. House of Representatives, also called the “One Big Beautiful Bill”: “Last November,... [More]
NOTICE:

The Linn County News and Linn County Printing offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, in honor of the holiday.
More News
- Pleasanton awarded $617,000 KDOT street grant
- Commissioners discuss development zoning appeals
- Questions on employee emails leads to lengthy discussion
- NOTICE:
- Tanglewood Lakes files suit against Board of County Commissioners
- Case filed alleging exploitation of minors, breach of privacy
- La Cygne executes pool bond defeasance
- CANCELED: Statewide Purple Alert issued for missing Yates Center woman
SPORTS
Gratton at Nationals

Pleasanton’s Ashton Gratton qualifies for the Adidas Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina after winning the 100 and 200 meter dashes in the KSHSAA 2A State tournament in Wichita on May 31. The Adidas Nationals took place from June 20-22 and Gratton did well in both the... [More]
Summer Ball Tournaments

The Parker 8-11 baseball team 1 places first in their league tournament at La Cygne on June 28. See more photos on page B1 of this week's edition.
More Sports
- 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
- Prairie View track earns six medals at State
- Pleasanton’s Gratton wins two golds, sets meet record
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

