Linn County News
Published Aug. 10, 2022
Mary Jo Spencer, age 83, of Mound City, Kan., passed away on Aug. 6, 2022, at Louisburg Healthcare, Louisburg, Kan.
She was born Nov. 13, 1938, in Terrell, Texas, to James Downing and Claudie Flower. Mary Jo moved to Lubbock, Texas, at the age of 5 years old and attended Lubbock High School.
She married Floyd Carter on Nov. 5 1955, in Clovis, N.M., and blessed to this union were 3 children, Delica, Doris and James.
Mary Jo resided in Lubbock, Texas, while Floyd was in the service. She also lived in Loving, N.M., for 7 years before moving to Kansas City, Kan., in 1969 where she attended cosmetology school.
Mary Jo and Floyd moved the family to Parker, Kan., in 1970 to farm on 80 acres they obtained. Floyd died Feb. 4 1976 and after his passing Mary Jo worked at Mi’ladys Hair Care and Nail Salon in Osawatomie, Kan.
On April 9, 1980, Mary Jo married Horton Spencer and moved to Tunas, Mo., where they purchased a dairy farm and lived for nine and a half years before retiring to Ritchey, Mo.
After three years in retirement, they moved to Macks Creek, Mo., and bought and operated M&J General Store. They loved to support Macks Creek sports, especially the basketball team. She was beloved by all of the school age children. Upon retiring from the store, they moved back to Ritchey, Mo. in 2008. In 2014 they finally came back home to Mound City, Kan.
Mary Jo was a strong hard-working woman for most of her life. Whether it was right alongside her husbands on the farm or running the grocery store. She also loved working outside in her flower garden, but most of all she loved God and her family in which she left a legacy of love and devotion.
Mary Jo is survived by her son, James Carter, Paola, Kan., daughter, Doris Hazen, Stillwell, Kan., son-in-law, William Leroy, McLoud, Okla., and her nephew, Richard Workman, Minco, Okla.; eight grandchildren, Cammie Cascio and her spouse, Chris Cascio, Brian Willey, Jeremy Willey and his spouse Nikki Willey, Deedra Doherty and her spouse Josh Doherty, Stephanie Hanson and her spouse Manny Hanson, Jenea - Carter-Miller and her spouse Nate Miller, and Melinda McBean and her spouse Ken McBean.
She had sixteen great- grandchildren, Damion, Kalyn and her spouse Brandon, Brooke, Kayla, Carter, Haven, Christian, Nevaeh, Alexia, Maddysen, Alexander, McKenzy, Mason, Lincoln, Sophia and Xavier plus one great-great-granddaughter Emma Jo Hawkins.
She is preceded in death by her parents, James and Claudie Downing; her sister, Jimmy Ruth Workman, her first husband, Floyd John Carter; her second husband, Horton Shago Spencer; her daughter, Delica Jo Leroy, her grandson Jonathan William LeRoy; and a great-granddaughter, McKenzy Carter.
Celebration of Life will be held on Aug. 20, at 1 p.m. at Broadway Villa Community Room, 19855 Broadway St., Stilwell, Kan., with graveside services to follow.
OBITUARIES
Donna Lee (Bishop) Stites ~ 02-13-1941 to 03-26-2025

Linn County News Published April 2, 2025 Donna Lee (Bishop) Stites, age 84, of Mound City, Kan., passed away peacefully in her sleep March 26, 2025, at the Olathe Medical Center, after an extended illness. Born on Feb. 13, 1941, the third child of Jacob and... [More]
Frank Scott DeRemus ~ 06-21-1967 to 03-04-2025

Linn County News Published April 2, 2025 Frank Scott DeRemus age 57 of Blue Mound, Kan., passed away Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at his home in Blue Mound. Scott was born June 21, 1967, in Olathe, Kan., to Frank Fox and Sharon K. (Chadwick) DeRemus. On August 11, 1994,... [More]
Douglas Eugene Joseph ~ 08-06-1964 to 03-16-2025

Linn County News Published April 2, 2025 Douglas Eugene Joseph, 60, of Fort Scott, Kan., died Sunday, March 16, 2025, at Research Medical Center, Kansas City, Mo. Doug was born on Aug. 6, 1964, in Pittsburg, Kan., to Jean Ann Jones. He graduated from high school... [More]
More Obituaries
- Linda Sue Tyson ~ 01-24-1942 to 03-21-2025
- Brent Ross Wheeler ~ July 27, 1956 – March 22, 2025
- Alice Walker ~ 09-03-1928 to 03-20-2025
- Colton James McCammon ~ 08-26-2003 to 03-15-2025
- Kenneth Lawrence Sloan ~ 01-24-1950 to 03-11-2025
- Lois Joan Streeter ~ 11-18-1931 to 03-05-2025
- Lila R. McCarty ~ 05-21-1938 to 03-08-2025
- Norma Jean Harvey ~ 09-26-1935 to 02-21-2025
NEWS
SPECIAL: STATEHOUSE REPORTING BUDGET FOR MARCH 28, 2025

FETALPERSONHOOD – The House and Senate on Thursday passed a bill that will require child support for unborn fetuses from the date of conception as well as an income tax exemption. A conference committee report was presented for HB2062 before the... [More]
SPECIAL: U.S. 69 overlay project set to begin in Bourbon and Linn counties

Monday, March 31, the Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin resurfacing work on U.S. 69 in Bourbon and Linn counties. An overlay will be placed on the northbound lanes of U.S. 69, starting at the south U.S. 54 junction in Fort Scott and continuing... [More]
Commissioners learn of grant for planning phase on courthouse repairs

During the March 24 meeting, the Linn County Commissioners heard from Linn County Public Works Administrator Shaun West on a grant possibility for repair work to the courthouse. SEKRPC (SEK Regional Planning Commission) is willing to assist with the HPF (Historic Preservation... [More]
More News
- La Cygne accepts deed conveyance on split vote
- Commissioners hear from resident on subdivision meeting
- SPECIAL: K-52 resurfacing project will begin soon
- Linn Valley imposes moratorium on new water and sewer construction
- Wind and fire damage dots county
- County hears from Tanglewood residents during public comment
- Commissioners discuss new option for Devlin Road
- Board votes to extend Meik contract
SPORTS
2025 Boys’ Basketball All County team

The 2024-2025 high school boys’ basketball has concluded and it is time once again for the annual All County team. As usual choosing the team was tough as there were many good players this season and plenty more that showed steady progress through the season. As... [More]
2025 Girls’ Basketball All County team

High school girls’ basketball has concluded for the 2024-25 season and it’s time for the annual All County team. Like the boys’ team, and like most years, choosing players was tough. Plenty of girls from all three schools, Prairie View, Jayhawk Linn and Pleasanton,... [More]
More Sports
- A season in review: Jayhawk Linn wrestling
- A season in review: Prairie View wrestling
- Pleasanton boys’ basketball earns Sub-State runner-up
- Prairie View girls’ basketball ends season against Neodesha
- Case leads Prairie View girls’ wrestling with a second-place finish
- McCarty leads Lady Hawks with a fourth-place finish at State
- Blu-Jays win sub-state shootout
- Jayhawk boys’ wrestling sends five to State
OBITUARIES POLICY
• May be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered.
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• Cost: $40 for 300 words or less. Each additional word over 300, 10¢. Photograph $5.
Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

