Linn County News
Published Sept. 20, 2017
Lura Jean (Wilson) Zinn, age 82 of Hume, Mo., died Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at Prescott Country View Nursing Home in Prescott, Kan. She was born Aug. 21, 1935, to Zella Mae Gregg Wilson and Earl DeVoe Wilson in Metz, Mo., the youngest of six children.
Jean attended several small schools in the Metz/Horton area and eventually the family moved to Nevada, Mo., where she completed her education, graduating from Nevada High School in 1953. During the summer before her final year of high school she was introduced to her future husband Willis Albert Zinn Jr. by her older brother Leroy at a weekend dance at Radio Springs Park. Willis insisted they wait to be married until she turned 18. They were united in marriage on Sept. 6, 1953, two weeks after her birthday.
Jean worked for a short time with Farm Bureau as office support/bookkeeper. Two years into the marriage their first child was born. Jean then began to work part-time for the lumberyard Willis managed. When Willis started working for the FAA as an air route traffic controller, Jean became a full-time wife and mother.
They had three girls stair-stepped two years apart. This began Jean’s career as a Girl Scouts leader and council volunteer. She started as a Brownie Troop Leader with her oldest daughter Cathy in 1962 and continued even after her youngest daughter Karen had completed her time in scouting. Jean was a troop leader for each of her girls as well as volunteering at the council level for many years. Her favorite times were the council-wide trips she organized, taking girls to see various places. The two major trips were to Mexico City, Mexico, to the Girl Scout World Center and a trip to Washington, D.C., for the national Girl Scout center. In 1980 she retired from active scouting and became a Lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts.
At this point she and Willis began their retirement careers as “gypsies.” Jean celebrated her 60th birthday in Hawaii with her middle daughter Pam. She had made it to all 50 states. She and Willis spent at least three months each winter in Florida, many summers in Alaska, trips to New England to see fall foliage and trips to California to see one of their daughters. In 1993 they made a point of visiting all four corners of the U.S.
Her favorite activities included playing dominos, doing word search puzzles, reading and playing cards, but most of all caring for her family. In addition to being a Lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts, she was a member of the Hume Methodist Church and the Hume Garden Club.
Jean is survived by three daughters, Cathy Thurow and husband Larry of Monticello, Ill., Pamela “Pam” Yarick and husband Meredith of Hume, Mo., and Karen McClure and husband Tom of Bloomington, Ill.; five grandchildren, Heather Kibbler and husband Sam, Ian Thurow, Kimberly Yarick, Brook Appleby and husband Aaron, and Bill McClure; many nephews; two brothers, Leroy Wilson and H.D. Wilson; one sister, Linda Byrns; and nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Willis (in 2013); one sister, Emily Bird; one brother, Orton Wilson; and one grandson, Matthew Yarick.
Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, at the Hume United Methodist Church. Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Fort Scott National Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at the church.
The family suggests contributions to the Hume United Methodist Church or Prescott Country View. Online condolences for the family can be left at www.schneiderfuneralscom. Arrangements: Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory Pleasanton Chapel.
OBITUARIES
Letha Spillman ~ 06-19-1929 to 10-02-2025

Linn County News Published October 8, 2025 Letha Spillman, age 96, of Kincaid, Kan., passed away at her home on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Letha Nadine Miller was born on June 19, 1929, in Blue Mound, Kan. Letha was born on the farm that was homesteaded by her grandfather.... [More]
Mary Alice Fagg ~ 07-30-1933 to 09-25-2025

Linn County News Published October 8, 2025 Mary Alice Fagg, age 92, formerly of Garnett, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, at Fort Scott Presbyterian Village in Fort Scott, Kan. Mary Alice Cash was born on July 30, 1933, the daughter of Cecil and May (Augur)... [More]
John T. Miles ~ 01-29-1960 to 05-01-2025

Linn County News Published October 8, 2025 John T. Miles, age 65, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Thursday, May 1, 2025. A celebration of John’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, “down in the boonies” at the whirlpool on... [More]
More Obituaries
- Paul David Hamilton ~ 11-07-1950 to 09-23-2025
- Lora Lynn West ~ 10-22-1959 to 09-24-2025
- Lois Ann Simons ~ 11-12-1937 to 09-27-2025
- Betty Joan Haupt ~ 10-03-1931 to 09-29-2025
- Carolyn Lee Wilson Dunlop ~ 12-15-1944 to 09-27-2025
- Angie Yeates Randall ~ 06-22-1967 to 09-22-2025
- William Howard Hansuld ~ 04-17-1960 to 09-19-2025
- Bernita Mae Ala ~ 02-28-1921 to 09-17-2025
NEWS
Suit filed in Sunshine Meadows building permit case

A court case has been filed in the 6th Judicial District in Linn County by Parker resident Jan Longenecker and 26 other plaintiffs against the Board of Zoning Appeals of Linn County to revoke building permits issued by the acting Zoning Administrator Ben Souza. Souza... [More]
Pleasanton demos asphalt zipper for street repair

The Pleasanton City Council and street crew had the opportunity to watch a live demonstration of an asphalt zipper last Wednesday on 8th Street between Cedar and Sycamore – a street with heavily damaged asphalt. Dave Fokken, Asphalt Zipper Government Sales rep, said many... [More]
La Cygne awards lift station bid

Generator emphasis is the final step in the $6.261 million wastewater project La Cygne leaders awarded a bid to replace every diesel-powered generator at the city’s three sewer lift stations to a Kansas City, Mo., firm. At last Wednesday’s regular meeting,... [More]
More News
- Appraiser’s office announces completion of review
- SPECIAL: KBI conducts statewide marijuana enforcement operation
- Pleasanton council vetoed on fire volunteer appointments
- Kansas Policy Institute talks property taxes with legislature
- Pleasanton city candidate forum Oct. 6
- County logo sees little change
- Linn County P&Z Appeals Board denies subdivision appeal
- Commissioners discuss suggestion to leave EDA position vacant
SPORTS
Lady Jays host league triangular and competes at Uniontown

The Pleasanton volleyball team had a busy week. First the team hosted a Three Rivers League triangular on Sept. 30 against Jayhawk Linn and Altoona Midway. Then on Oct. 4 the team traveled to Uniontown for the Uniontown Volleyball Invitational. To see the full article, check... [More]
Jayhawk volleyball has a busy successful week

The Jayhawk volleyball team was busy this past week as they had games on Sept. 30, Oct. 2, and Oct. 4. They traveled to Pleasanton on Sept. 30 to play a TRL triangular against Pleasanton and Altoona Midway. Then on Oct. 2 they hosted TRL foes Chetopa and Oswego. Then on Oct.... [More]
Jayhawk football wins thriller over Pleasanton on Homecoming

The Jayhawk Linn football team had a big game this past Friday on Oct. 3. Not only was it their Homecoming game but it was also a TRL/District game against their in-county rival the Pleasanton Blu-Jays. Both teams played hard and one could tell that both teams really wanted... [More]
More Sports
- Prairie View football dominates Burlington on Homecoming
- Pleasanton volleyball travels to Arma and Prairie View
- Jayhawk volleyball goes 4-0 on the week
- Pleasanton volleyball competes at Yates Center and Humboldt
- Prairie View football picks up a big win against Wellsville
- Jayhawk volleyball has a solid week going 3-0
- Seasoned Olpe powers over young 'Hawks
- Wade and Schneider start impressive girls’ golf season for the Buffalos and Hawks
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com
