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
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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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
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- 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
OBITUARIES POLICY
• May be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered.
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

