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Linn County News

Published May 1, 2019

 

Lawrence Olin Tinsley, 91, of Paola, Kan., died Friday, April 19, 2019, surrounded by family. He was born July 31, 1927, in Bronson, Kan., the second of four children, to Charles Samuel Tinsley and Leota May (Williams) Tinsley.

He graduated from Parker High School in 1945. He attended Fort Scott Junior College.

He met the love of his life, Jacqueline Marie (Day) Tinsley, while studying at Fort Scott, Kan. Lawrence and Jackie married on June 5, 1950, in Fort Scott.

He proudly served first in the United States Maritime Service and then in the U.S. Army, for over four years. Lawrence served two years in Manila, Philippines. He was called back into service from the Army Reserves after he and Jackie were married, serving another 10 months and 20 days in Korea during the early months of the war. His units included the X Corps and the 24th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Commendation Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, the Korean Service Medal with Three Bronze Service Stars, and a medal from the president of the Republic of Korea. He was honorably separated from active duty on 29 October 1951 with the rank of master sergeant.

Lawrence graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business from Pittsburg State College in 1954. He and Jackie became parents of three children, Mark Charles, Lawrence Kenton and Randall James. Lawrence’s career included being an accountant and owner/operator of a bowling alley, a family affair, with the help of his spouse, parents, sister and sons. His longest career was his work for Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, primarily in Miami County and Crawford County, Kan.

When he retired from social work in 1987, he and Jackie became “Winter Texans” in Zapata for approximately 10 years. His joys were golfing, bowling and his children, Mark (Cindy) and Larry (Mary), and his grandchildren, Heidi Nichole (Tinsley) Shulista (Bob), Nathaniel S.S. Tinsley (Jennifer), Micheal Lawrence Tinsley (Kayla) and Raechelle Marie Tinsley. His greatest joy was the love of his precious wife, Jackie.

After retirement Lawrence enjoyed genealogy research, during which he discovered very interesting ancestral members that he treasured. Most especially, there were 17 Branstetter cousins, one of whom was Lawrence’s great grandfather, Thomas L. Branstetter, who enlisted together in the Missouri Union Cavalry on April 19, 1863, in a cause for freedom. His great, great grandfather, Wheeler Branch Southwick, died while serving with the Union Army of the Potomac in 1864 during the Civil War. As much as he was proud of his ancestral history of freedom fighting and his own, Lawrence espoused the belief that the “love” of war should never become a family value. He also found that one of his grandmothers, Emma Jane Williams, was a descendant of Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick, who as Quakers endured seizure of their Peabody, Mass., homestead and glass factory, along with being exiled from the mainland due to the greed and religious persecution of the early 1600s.

Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents; his two siblings, Lloyd Author and Catherine Charlene; his son, Randy; and his spouse of 65 years, Jackie.

He is survived by his sons, Mark (Cindy) and Larry (Mary); his sister, Charlotte (Tinsley) Earley (Gary); and his four grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild, along with many nieces, nephews and other friends and relatives.

The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations to be made to VFW in Paola.

A memorial service and military honors will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 13, 2019, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola. Burial of ashes will be at a later date in Fort Scott National Cemetery, Fort Scott.

To leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.DengelMortuary.com. Dengel & Son Paola Chapel, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, KS 66071, 913-294-2372.

OBITUARIES

Gary Ray Johnson ~ 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025

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Linn County News Published June 4, 2025   Gary Ray Johnson, age 90 of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on May 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, June 2, 2025, at the Schneider Funeral Home in Pleasanton, Kan. Visitation... [More]

Rees Lyle Shattuck ~ 08-31-1931 to 05-26-2025

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Linn County News Published May 28, 2025   Rees Lyle Shattuck, age 93, Prescott, Kan., passed away Monday, May 26, 2025. He was born on Aug. 31, 1931, in Boicourt, Kan., the son of Rees Wilbur and Lulu Elizabeth Black Shattuck. He served his country in the United... [More]

Wayne Eldon Long ~ 07-03-1942 to 05-24-2025

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Linn County News Published May 28, 2025   Wayne Eldon Long, age 82, of Parker, Kan., passed away on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Wayne was born on July 3, 1942, in Garnett, Kan., the son of Homer Leon and Margaret Ethel (Collins) Long. He was one of three children and... [More]

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PLEASANTON WEATHER

NEWS

SPECIAL: Commission to vote Monday on Parker Center lease

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SPORTS

Jayhawk track breaks another school record and qualifies multiple athletes for State

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The Jayhawk Linn track team traveled to West Franklin on May 22 to compete in the 3A Regional. As a team the girls placed 10th with a score of 22.5 points while the boys were fifth with 56 points. This year the top three places in each event qualify for the State meet then... [More]

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The Pleasanton track team traveled to Eureka on May 22 for a 2A Regional track meet. This year the top three places advance to the State meet along the top four times/distances not from the top three from all other Regionals. This year the Jays qualified eight athletes in seven... [More]

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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

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