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, Kan. He was the sixth of eight children born to George Richard Sumners and Lois Audrey (Clark) Sumners.
As a boy, Larry's family lived in Blue Mound, Kan., and Lamar, Colo., before Larry moved to Centerville in the late 1960s. He then graduated from Prairie View High School with the class of 1972.
On September 23, 1972, Larry was united in marriage to Martha Gale Croan at Centerville. Their union was blessed with five children (some of the time). Throughout his working years Larry worked as a truck driver, welder and as a mechanic. He was always a mechanic whether it was his job description or not. In 2015 Larry retired as a welder at Taylor Forge, Paola, Kan., after working there since 2000. He also served as a volunteer fireman for the Centerville Fire Department for many years.
Larry was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need, sometimes that translated to loaning parts from his family's cars to get someone else's car back on the road. In his free time he enjoyed catfishing, and visiting with friends and family or even total strangers. Once he was blessed with grandbabies he was all about everything to do with them; watching TV with them, giving four wheeler rides, fishing, swimming or taking a nap with them. He especially loved taking the grandkids to the fair and enjoying the rides with them.
Larry's breakfasts and practical jokes will be missed by his family. The grandchildren will miss Papo because they knew they could get almost anything they wanted from him. Larry loved music, except for rap, his love turned into dancing after a few beers.
He was preceded in death by his son, Evan on Sept. 14, 2002; grandson, Tyler Sumners; his parents; two brothers, George and Richard; and two sisters, Allene Welch and Vicky Thompson.
Larry is survived by his wife of 49 years, Martha Gale Sumners of the home; four children and their families, Audrey Schuster of Centerville, Brad Sumners and wife, Kimberly of Osawatomie, Kan., Christina Sumners and fiance, Brad Kerr of Parker, Kan., Denna Dawes and husband, Melvin of Inman, Kan.; 14 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Joan Higgins of Hermitage, Mo., Patty Higgins and husband, Steve of Phoenix, Ariz., and Rosie Sandoval and husband, Mike of Hillsdale, Kan.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Garnett, Kan. Burial will follow in the Centerville Cemetery. Larry's family will greet friends from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday evening at the funeral home in Garnett.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Larry Sumners memorial fund and left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.
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

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La Cygne leaders discuss food truck follow-up

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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

