Maxine Bowman Staley, 91, died Saturday evening, April 22, 2017, at Hiawatha Community Hospital surrounded by her family. She had made her home next door to her daughter and son-in-law Linda and Steve Korthanke of rural Robinson, Kan., for the past 16 years.
Maxine was born Dec. 5, 1925, at Buffalo, Kan., one of five children born to Arnold and Hazel Gilliland Moreland. She had spent most of her life in the Osawatomie, Kan., area where she worked as an activity therapist for the Osawatomie State Hospital for most of her working life.
She attended the Baptist Church at Osawatomie. She was a ham radio operator (an activity that was male dominant) and a member of the Red Hat Society of the Hiawatha, Kan., area. While still in school herself, she was asked to be the basketball coach and teacher at Parker, Kan. She loved music of all types with her favorite being blue grass. Maxine was an artist – she enjoyed painting of all types: oil, watercolor, acrylic, etc. To say that she enjoyed collecting elephants was an understatement!
Survivors include her children: Linda Korthanke (Steve) of rural Robinson, Barbara Nash of Centerville, Kan., Dianna Swinehart (Mike) of Paola, Kan., LaDonna Cornett (Glenn) of Parker, Roger Bowman (Linda) of La Cygne, Kan.; 17 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Maxine also had a very special friend she called a daughter, Walta Fry.
Maxine was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband for nearly 25 years Frankie Bowman; her second husband – they were married for nearly 10 years – Earl Staley; and three grandchildren, Tennille McCracken, Scott Nash and Stacie Koelsch. She was the last survivor of her family: three brothers, Jake, Keith and Junior; and a sister, Ruth.
Graveside services are planned for 2 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at Goodrich Cemetery near Parker.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Maxine Staley Memorial Fund, sent in care of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S. Seventh St., Hiawatha, KS 66434.
A special message or remembrance may be sent to the family at www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com

OBITUARIES

Ruth Ann Antrim ~ 05-21-1951 to 07-07-2025

thumb

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025   Ruth Ann Antrim, formerly Hueston, passed away July 7, 2025, after bravely battling cancer for many years. Ruth Ann was 74 years old. She lived and worked in the Mound City and Fort Scott, Kan., areas her... [More]

Helen Maxine Wright ~ 05-28-1939 to 06-19-2025

thumb

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025   Helen Maxine Wright, age 86, formerly of Blue Mound, Kan., passed away at her home in Abbyville, Kan., on Thursday, June 19, 2025.  Funeral service was held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 7, 2025, at the Community... [More]

Kelly Kehl ~ 03-25-1938 to 06-28-2025

thumb

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Kelly Kehl, age 87, of Mound City, Kan., passed away Saturday, June 28, 2025, at his rural Mound City home.  Kelly was born March 25, 1938, south of Parker, Kan., to Keith (Tom) Emerson Kehl and Helen Edith (Giffin) Kehl. Kelly... [More]

More Obituaries

View All Obituaries
PLEASANTON WEATHER

NEWS

SPECIAL: Benefits question an issue for county employees

thumb

A poll sent to Linn County employees mid-week asking which benefit they would prefer to lose has created a spark of animosity among those who received it. One person anonymously shared it to a Mound City-oriented Facebook page as a screen shot along with their comments highlighting... [More]

Commissioners discuss various budgets

thumb

SEKMHC in mix At the end of a meeting attended by two of the three commissioners, a discussion was held regarding several of the proposed budgets for next year. Commissioners Alison Hamilton and Jim Johnson first discussed the proposed budget for Southeast Kansas Mental Health.... [More]

City learns of fire gear condition

thumb

Pleasanton Fire Department ISO inspection July 16 Following the appointment of new Fire Chief Jimmy Watts as Pleasanton Fire Chief, the Pleasanton Council heard of the condition of bunker gear Monday night at their bi-weekly meeting. Watts reported the truck ran with the... [More]

More News

SPORTS

Nobodys wins Blue Mound co-ed softball tournament

thumb

The team called Nobodys wins the Blue Mound 4th of July co-ed softball tournament on July 5. This year the tournament consisted of eight teams. The Nobodys is Keith Morrell’s team and has been a part of the softball tournament since it started three years ago.

Pleasanton 12-14 baseball wins championship

thumb

The Pleasanton 12-14 baseball team wins their league tournament on June 30 to July 1. Pleasanton hosted the tournament and won in the championship against La Cygne 11-7.

More Sports

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

View Legals for Free Business Directory