Linda Ann Smith, 68, of Bryan, Texas, formerly of Spring Hill, Kan., and Linn and Miami Counties died Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014 in Houston, Texas.
Linda was born June 3, 1946 in Sutherland, Neb., the third child of four to Louis Claudie and Evelyn Eileen (Glendenning) Jackson.
When Linda was six years old, the family moved to Kansas and settled in Parker. Linda grew up in Parker and attended school there from start to finish, graduating from Parker High School with the class of 1964.
On April 10, 1969, Linda married Willard Eugene Smith in Ottawa, Kan. They made their home in Olathe, Kan., and became the parents of three children. Later they moved to Springhill, Kan., until 1977 when they moved to the Hillsdale area. Willard died Oct. 20, 1987 of leukemia. The couple had been married for over 18 years.
After the death of her husband Linda moved to Fort Scott, Kan., to be close to her parents. She remained in Fort Scott until after the death of her mother in 2001, when she then moved to Bryan, Texas to live near her son.
Linda was a homemaker and loved taking care of her family. She was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. She enjoyed her life as a loving caregiver for her family. Linda and her husband liked to travel and went on many vacations with their children when they were still at home. Linda and Willard never stopped traveling and crossed the country many times in their van. They traveled the USA from coast to coast and everywhere in between. Linda liked to quilt and to sew, take a stroll in the park or listen to some music and even though she enjoyed country music, she was a great fan of Elvis Presley.
Linda was a woman of faith and believed in the word of the Bible. She attended several Pentecostal churches and attended the Church of God Holiness church regularly for some time.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
Linda is survived by her three sons, Lonnie Allen Smith of Cecil, Ohio, Louis Claire (Melissa Kay) Smith of Bryan, Texas and Lorn James Smith of Eldorado, Mo.; two brothers, Larry Jackson of Smithville, Mo., and George (Sue) Jackson of Prescott, Kan.; and one sister Martha Jane (Harold) Mayes of Grandview, Mo.; three grandchildren, Louis Smith Jr., Kayla Kay Smith and Kandi Handley; three great-grandchildren, Tristan and Twyla Daniels and Glenn Handley; along with many other family members and friends.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at Eddy-Birchard Chapel with burial to follow at Miami Memorial Gardens, Paola, Kan.
OBITUARIES
Jean Driskell ~ 03-22-1943 to 07-18-2025

Linn County News Published July 23, 2025 Jean Driskell, age 82, formerly of La Cygne, Kan., passed away Friday, July 18, 2025. Memorial service will be held 7 p.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Schneider Funeral Home, La Cygne Chapel. Visitation... [More]
Burton Clyde Brownback ~ 05-21-1953 to 07-13-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Burton Clyde Brownback, age 72, Tri-Ko resident in Osawatomie, Kan., passed away Sunday, July 13, 2025. He was born on May 21, 1953, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Clyde and Shirley Drake Brownback. He graduated from Prairie View... [More]
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]
More Obituaries
- Helen Maxine Wright ~ 05-28-1939 to 06-19-2025
- Kelly Kehl ~ 03-25-1938 to 06-28-2025
- 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
NEWS
Special: Resurfacing to begin on U.S. 69 in Linn County

A Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) resurfacing project on U.S. 69 in Linn County will begin the week of July 28. The project will resurface U.S. 69 with ultrathin bonded asphalt for just over 7 miles from Pleasanton to just north of... [More]
Pleasanton FD again at center of heated discussion

The majority of heated discussion came at the end of the Pleasanton City Council meeting Monday night during council discussion when Council people Bill Skipper and Angelina Randall squared off concerning the recent ISO inspection that occurred at the fire department. Skipper... [More]
La Cygne city to be below revenue neutral

Ad valorem revenue will decrease by almost $16,600, levy by over 7.6 mills The city of La Cygne will not only be revenue neutral but actually below neutral on its 2026 municipal budget. That was the report from Jodi Wade, city clerk, at last Wednesday’s regular... [More]
More News
- USD 362 files revenue-neutral exceedances
- Commissioners discuss airport future, request more information
- SPECIAL: Resurfacing on U.S. 59 in Anderson County to begin in August 4
- Commissioners vote to exceed revenue neutral
- Mulberry Limestone CUP approved by P & Z
- SPECIAL: Benefits question an issue for county employees
- Commissioners discuss various budgets
- City learns of fire gear condition
SPORTS
Pleasanton trapshooting team shows grit at National Championship

Eight members of the Pleasanton Trapshooting Team traveled to Mason, Mich., last week to compete in the USA Clay Target League National Championship. Five members participated in the team event, and all eight competed individually. The team was among 264 qualified teams competing... [More]
Blue Mound softball earns second place at Crest

The Blue Mound girls’ coach pitch team 1 places second at the TRL girls’ coach pitch tournament at Colony. The tournament took place from July 7 to July 9.
More Sports
- Nobodys wins Blue Mound co-ed softball tournament
- Pleasanton 12-14 baseball wins championship
- Gratton at Nationals
- 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
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

