Linn County News
Published December 18, 2024
Mark Bradley Lee, 61, of La Cygne, Kansas died Friday, December 13, 2024 surrounded by his loving family.
Mark was born February 8, 1963 in Paola, Kan., the son of Lewis N. Lee and JoAnn Gregory. He graduated from Prairie View High School with the Class of 1981. A sense of duty to God and country inspired Mark to join the United States Army on June 1, 1981, where he excelled in marksmanship and earned numerous awards including the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. Mark was deployed to the Gulf War where he participated in Desert Storm. Mark retired with the rank of Sergeant First Class (E7). During his enlistment he was always striving to be the best soldier possible. He considered his personal greatest achievement to be his induction into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club (S.A.M.C.). “This is a private U.S. Army organization for enlisted non-commissioned officers (NCO) only. Those NCO’s whose leadership achievements and performance merit special recognition may possibly earn the reward of membership. Members must... “...exemplify leadership characterized by personal concern for the needs, training, development and welfare of Soldiers and concern for families of Soldiers (FORSCOM Reg. 600-8, paragraph 1).” In order to even be considered, a soldier must be recommended by his NCO chain-of-command and to be officially accepted into this exclusive club the soldier must pass a rigorous board examination process.
Mark spent many years working as a Data Technician. He retired from IBEW Local #124. Mark was a community-minded person, he spent many summers coaching baseball in La Cygne. Mark was an avid outdoorsman and loved to fish, especially for crappie. Mark never met a stranger and he always had a story to tell. And he enjoyed listening to stories as much as telling them so it was only natural that when he opened his bait shop in Pleasanton, he named it Fishing Tales. He especially took great pride in being a grandfather to Rowan who affectionately called his grandfather, “Papa Fish.” His children were unanimous that “family was everything to him.” Mark had a few more loves, he loved his coffee and he loved playing poker with anyone who would have a seat at the table.
Mark was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include two sons, Gavin (Marisa) Lee, and Clayton J. Lee; three daughters, Sidney Burchett, Kaysia Burchett, and Madison (Adam) Bazemore; two brothers, Rickey (Sandy) Lee, and Randy (Robyne) Lee; one sister, Debbie (J.R.) May; one grandson, Rowan Lee; five nephews and one niece, Jarrett May, Colton May, Dillon May, Laura Lee, Clayton G. Lee, and Nic Lee; numerous great-nieces, and great-nephews, and a host of extended family and friends.
Funeral Service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at Schneider Funeral Home and Cremations, La Cygne Chapel. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until service time. Burial will follow the service in East Mount Zion Cemetery. The Fort Riley Funeral Honors Team will provide military honors. The family suggests memorial contributions to Ray of Hope, c/o Schneider Funeral Home, PO. Box 304, La Cygne, Kan. 66040. Online condolences may be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.
OBITUARIES
Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith passed away Saturday June 7, 2025, at the Stoneybrook Retirement Community in Manhattan. She was born on Nov. 19, 1935, in Topeka, Kan., to Neil and Gladys (Goldsmith)... [More]
Ron Arbogast ~ 08-31-1946 to 06-05-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Ron Arbogast, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, coach, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on June 5, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was 78. Born Aug. 31, 1946, in Fort Scott, Kan.,... [More]
Richard “Dick” Smith ~ 04-18-1942 to 06-22-2025

Linn County News Published June 25, 2025 Richard "Dick" Smith, age 83, formerly of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away in Olathe, Kan., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Graveside Service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Pleasanton Cemetery. Contributions... [More]
More Obituaries
- 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
- Rees Lyle Shattuck 08-31-1931 to 05-26-2025
- Dixie Bradley Wilkerson 10-15-1939 to 05-30-2025
- Gary Ray Johnson 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025
- Gary Ray Johnson ~ 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025
NEWS
NOTICE:

Due to a scheduling conflict, the commissioners will not be meeting today, June 25th, for a second budget workshop. The meeting has been rescheduled for July 2nd.
Tanglewood Lakes files suit against Board of County Commissioners

Requests declaratory judgement that roads are private The Tanglewood Lakes Owners Association, Inc. (TLOA), filed a lawsuit in Linn County District Court on June 6, 2025, against the Linn County Board of County Commissioners requesting a declaratory judgement from... [More]
Case filed alleging exploitation of minors, breach of privacy

On June 20, following an extensive investigation by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Linn County Attorney’s Office filed a case in district court charging Erik Hellner, a Sugar Valley Lakes resident, with six separate felonies. The case originally stems from... [More]
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- NOTICE
- Commissioners discuss estimate on overlay project
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SPORTS
Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship

The Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team traveled to Wichita to compete in the Kansas Trapshooting State tournament. The tournament features more than 110 high schools and over 1,500 student athletes. Pleasanton/Jayhawk compete in the 2A competition which happened on June... [More]
Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad

Prairie View’s head boys’ wrestling Coach Joey Ewalt does more for the sport than just coaching the Buffalos, he has made an impact on the sport as a wrestler, coach and official. Ewalt began his wrestling career at the very young age of four. His father, Mike Ewalt,... [More]
More Sports
- 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
- Jayhawk track breaks another school record and qualifies multiple athletes for State
- School records and State qualifiers are made for the Jays at Eureka
- Prairie View track qualifies multiple athletes for State
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

