May 4, 2020

Linn County News

Published May 6, 2020

Mary Sue (Kepner) Fountain, formerly of Linn County, Kan., passed away on April 18, 2020, at Bridge Haven Memory Care. She was 85 years old. Mary Sue, the oldest child and daughter of Mary Lena (Hall) and Glenn Sterling Kepner, was born May 26, 1934, in Bogard Township east of Urich, Mo. on the family farm. 

Mary Sue graduated from Urich High School in 1952, valedictorian of her class. She married Frederick Bradfield Fountain on October 26, 1956. In 1966, they purchased a farm near Mound City, Kan., where Mary Sue lived until 2018.

Mary Sue was always trying new things, and her friends and family benefited from her cooking, sewing and crafts. She was quick to laughter and it was easy to strike up a conversation with her. She spent time gardening, collecting African violets and bird watching. She was an avid reader and also enjoying researching family history.  Mary Sue and Fred loved to travel, often attending Native American pow-wows and returning with jewelry, art and pottery from the artisans they met.

Late in life, Mary Sue became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and enjoyed meeting people and sharing information from the Bible with them.

Mary Sue is survived by her children, Susan Ross, Brad Fountain (Corina), Leanne TeKolste (Toby), and Paul Fountain (Vicki); nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Jean Overbey and Margaret Kerns.  Mary Sue was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Fred; her son David Fountain; and her brother Sterling Kepner. 

Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) or Avalon Hospice (www.avalon-hospice.com).

Interment and a celebration of Mary Sue’s life will be held at a later date.