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
Windfred Allen DeMott ~ 09-15-1940 to 06-07-2025

Linn County News Published June 18, 2025 Windfred Allen DeMott, age 84, resident of Bronaugh, Mo., died Saturday June 7, 2025, at the home. He was born Sept. 15, 1940, in Mound City, Kan., and his parents were Clyde Vernon DeMott and Alice Rosemond (Jackman) DeMott.... [More]
Maxine Breuel ~ 11-20-1926 to 06-07-2025

Linn County News Published June 11, 2025 Maxine Breuel, age 98, Mound City, Kan., passed away Saturday, June 7, 2025. She was born on Nov. 20, 1926, in Mound City, Kan., the daughter of Stacey and Ruth Ellis Furse. She graduated from Mound City High School... [More]
Richard Paul Henderson ~ 07-26-1950 to 06-01-2025
Linn County News Published June 11, 2025 Richard Paul Henderson, age 74, of Blue Mound, Kan., passed away Sunday, June 1, 2025. He was born on July 26, 1950, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Charles and Lidea Morris Henderson. After graduating high school, Rich joined... [More]
More Obituaries
- 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
- Rees Lyle Shattuck ~ 08-31-1931 to 05-26-2025
- Wayne Eldon Long ~ 07-03-1942 to 05-24-2025
- John Ted Miles ~ 01-29-1960 to 05-01-2025
- Zachary Eldon White ~ 06-12-1992 to 04-29-2025
NEWS
CANCELED: Statewide Purple Alert issued for missing Yates Center woman

UPDATE WOODSON COUNTY – The Yates Center Police Department reported to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) that Tammara Isaacs was located safely. The statewide Purple Alert is canceled. - - - - WOODSON COUNTY – The Yates Center Police... [More]
Parker mayor seeks affidavits to file charges

Webber cites lake ruts video footage, loose dogs chasing people indoors To assure a method for citing and prosecuting wrongdoings against city ordinance and codes, Parker Mayor Jason Webber is choosing to utilize legal affidavits. At last Thursday’s monthly... [More]
USD 346 board learns of overpayments

During the June 9 meeting of the USD 346 Board of Education, the board learned the district had been notified of overpayments they received between fiscal years 2016 and 2023. The overpayments were discovered when Public Consulting Group (PCG) was reviewing the cost reporting... [More]
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- NOTICE
- Commissioners discuss estimate on overlay project
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- Blue Moon Youth Center to hold matinees this summer
- Pleasanton council divided on Fire Chief appointment
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
OBITUARIES POLICY
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

