Linn County News
Published October 26, 2022
Mary Katherine (Lynn) Smith, retired businesswoman, farm operator and community volunteer, passed peacefully on Oct. 16, 2022, at the Residencies of Pleasanton, Kan. During the nearly seventy years that she resided in Pleasanton, she lived a life of service to others being a volunteer in numerous community activities. She was generous with her time and resources. Her sparkling, smiling Irish eyes will be missed.
She was born on April 11, 1927, in her maternal grandmother’s home in Centralia, Kan., the daughter of Edward B. Lynn and Hazel M. (Anthony) Lynn. Mary Kay, as she was known to family and friends, graduated from Centralia High School in May 1945. Leaving her family’s farmstead for the city, she obtained employment in the summer of 1945 as a paralegal to Roy K. Dietrich, a prominent attorney in Kansas City, Mo. She also attended classes at night at the Kansas City Junior College in 1946-47 in the Westport District. On June 7, 1948, she and Daniel H. Smith, a WWII veteran and high school classmate, were married at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Church in Westport.
After her marriage she worked in Strong Hall at the University of Kansas under Fred Ellsworth, executive secretary of the K. U. Alumni Association. Following her husband’s graduation from KU Pharmacy School in 1950, they lived in Kansas City and Ottawa, Kan. On April 1, 1953, she and her husband opened Dan Smith Rexall Drug Store, formerly Lhuiller Drug, in Pleasanton. In 1955 Mary Kay visited the University of Kansas Medical School where she recruited William Justus, M.D. to open his medical practice in Pleasanton.
She worked in the family’s pharmacy until its sale in 1992. During this time she was an active member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Pleasanton. An avid musician, she sang with several choral groups in Pleasanton and Arizona churches.
In 1969, her husband and she purchased the family farm near Pleasanton where she resided until recently. In 1976, she became a licensed nursing home administrator and for the following decade was the administrator of the family’s facility, Pleasant View Manor, now known as the Residencies.
As the child of a teacher, she felt the most pleasure from teaching others to read. She volunteered for several years as a paraprofessional with the Head Start program in Pleasanton where she helped new generations of youngsters learn. She gladly sat on the floor with the kids, one on one.
She is survived by her three children, Daniel of Overland Park, Stanley of Wichita and Dianna of the home; and by her six grandchildren, Tricia, Lauran, Christina, Alexa, Lindsey and Sam; and two great-grandsons Maxwell and Trenton.
According to Mary Kay's wishes, cremation has taken place and no services are planned. Arrangements are under the care of Schneider Funeral Home & Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel, Pleasanton, KS.
OBITUARIES
Ruby M. Nielson ~ 01-21-1932 to 04-27-2024
Linn County News Published May 8, 2024 Ruby M. Nielson, 92, of Berryton, passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at a Burlington, Kan., hospital. A Celebration of Ruby’s Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Dove Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota... [More]
Patty Conklin ~ 08-31-1932 to 04-26-2024
Linn County News Published May 1, 2024 Patty Conklin age 91 of Parker, Kan., died Friday, April 26, 2024, at Good Samaritan’s in Olathe, Kan. Visitation will be from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Thursday May 2, followed by service at 11:30 a.m., all at First Baptist Church... [More]
Robert “Bob” Eugene Markley ~ 04-11-1936 to 04-15-2024
Linn County News Published April 17, 2024 Robert (Bob) Eugene Markley, 88, was born on his family farm north of Mound City, Kansas, April 11, 1936, to Aaron R. and Hallie (Bell) Markley. He passed from this life on April, 15, 2024, at the very place he was born,... [More]
More Obituaries
- Ronald Joe Smith ~ 05-10-1944 to 04-11-2024
- Mary Tinsley ~ 12-15-1935 to 04-09-2024
- Frederick John “Fritz” Johanning, Jr. ~ 08-10-1948 to 03-26-2024
- Doris Maxine Basore ~ 01-02-1920 to 03-10-2024
- Janice (Good) Waltmire ~ 08-20-1937 to 03-09-2024
- Richard Lee Strader ~ 06-08-1974 to 02-24-24
- Robert William Harper, Jr. ~ 07-14-1947 to 02-24-2024
- Richard Eldon Baldwin ~ 07-21-1963 to 03-04-2024
NEWS
Special: U.S. 69 resurfacing project starts this week
Tuesday, May 7, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) expects to begin a resurfacing project on 6 miles of U.S. 69 in Linn County. The project area begins north of K-52 and continues north to Linn Valley. Project activity includes placing... [More]
Special: Governor issues State of Disaster Emergency proclamation for approaching severe weather
Governor Laura Kelly issued a verbal state of disaster emergency proclamation at 11:41 a.m. today, Monday, May 6, due to severe weather that will affect the state. This declaration activates the Kansas Response Plan and the ability to expedite state agency assistance... [More]
Commissioners hear damage report, declare county as state, local disaster site
The Linn County Commissioners heard from Public Works Administrator Shawn West regarding damage across the county due to storms and flooding over the weekend. West reported there was a lot of road scouring, rock loss, and culverts were plugged. West had several photos he... [More]
More News
- Mayor vetoes vacating 7th Street off of Main
- USD 362 to wait on admin addition
- Commissioners appoint new county counselor
- La Cygne accepts desludging cost
- USD 362 sets capacity numbers
- Pull Tabs for Pound Puppies
- Linn County Planning Commission proceeds with prohibiting commercial solar fields
- Commissioners send CUP for rock quarry back to P&Z again
SPORTS
Jayhawk track has a strong performance at home invitational
The Jayhawk Linn track team hosted their home track invitational on April 22. The Hawks did very well as their boys’ team won the event with 133 points and the girls’ team placed second with 110 points. Danyka Pointer placed fifth for the girls in the 100 meter... [More]
Prairie View track takes top two places at Jayhawk
The Prairie View track team traveled to Jayhawk Linn on April 22 for the Jayhawk Linn Invitational. The Buffalos did very well at the meet as the girls’ team won with a score of 137 points and the boys’ team placed second with 88 points. Laney Schaffer led the... [More]
More Sports
- Prairie View softball goes 4-2 in busy week
- Pleasanton baseball sweeps St. Paul and Oswego
- Jayhawk baseball splits against Southeast Cherokee
- Prairie View track has strong performance at Anderson County
- Jayhawk track wins Pleasanton Invitational
- Pleasanton track hosts home invitational
- Jayhawk softball sweeps Crest
- Prairie View track takes on tough challenge at Paola
OBITUARIES POLICY
• May be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered.
• Must be received by 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning in order to appear in that week's edition.
• Obituaries submitted by funeral homes will be billed to the funeral home.
• Full obituaries submitted by individuals are required to be paid in advance.
• 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