Linn County News
Published April 18, 2018
Neva Kathleen Baker, age 100, went to meet her Lord on Jan. 19, 2018, at Wheat State Manor, Whitewater, Kan. Kathleen was born on July 9, 1917, in Parker, Kan., to Charles Edgar Ross and Agnes Lynette (McCollam) Ross of Blue Mound, Kan.
For her first six years, Kathleen lived in Parker and started school there. Then the family moved to Centerville where she resided until the age of 16. At that time she went to live with and work for Wallace and Jane McCaslin from 1934-1941. During that time she also worked at the Kincaid Bank for two years, 1938-1939.
On Oct. 9, 1942, Kathleen married Raymond Charles Baker in Iola, Kan. They lived together on a farm 1 mile south and 1 mile west of Blue Mound for 34 years. There were no children of this marriage. Raymond was blind, so much of the farming fell to Kathleen. She drove the tractor and farmed with the help of other family members. In addition to farming they also had a dairy operation. In 1976 they retired from farming and milking.
Kathleen was a member of the Rebekah Lodge in Blue Mound since 1942.
They bought a fifth-wheel camper trailer and began their snowbird adventures. Kathleen pulled that trailer from Kansas to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas every winter for the next 21 years. Raymond and Kathleen enjoyed their life as snowbirds and made many lasting friendships over those years.
In 1980 they sold the farm and bought a house in Blue Mound. They lived there together until Raymond’s passing on June 18, 2003, after 61 years of marriage. Kathleen continued to live there alone until 2007 when she sold the house and moved to Calvary Crossing Apartments in Fort Scott, Kan. Calvary Crossing was then her home until her health began to fail in the spring of 2017. So on May 18, 2017, she moved from her apartment to Wheat State Manor, Whitewater, to be near her niece, Eleanor Smith. She remained there at Wheat State Manor until her passing on Jan. 19, 2018.
Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Agnes Ross; her brother, Mac Ross; her sister, Luella Sanders; and her husband, Raymond Baker. She is survived by six nieces and one nephew, Eleanor (Dan) Smith of Potwin, Kan. (formerly of Blue Mound), Helen Aggers, Blue Mound, and Kay Foster, Mary Kartcheske, Lorene Russel, Willis Ross and Winnie Deiter, all of King City, Mo.; and numerous great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, and several great-great-great nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be 3 p.m. Monday, April 23, 2018, at Blue Mound Federated Church, Blue Mound. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to service time at the church.
The family suggests contributions to Wheat State Manor in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box J, Mound City, Kan. 66056. Online condolences for the family can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.
OBITUARIES
Letha Spillman ~ 06-19-1929 to 10-02-2025

Linn County News Published October 8, 2025 Letha Spillman, age 96, of Kincaid, Kan., passed away at her home on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Letha Nadine Miller was born on June 19, 1929, in Blue Mound, Kan. Letha was born on the farm that was homesteaded by her grandfather.... [More]
Mary Alice Fagg ~ 07-30-1933 to 09-25-2025

Linn County News Published October 8, 2025 Mary Alice Fagg, age 92, formerly of Garnett, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, at Fort Scott Presbyterian Village in Fort Scott, Kan. Mary Alice Cash was born on July 30, 1933, the daughter of Cecil and May (Augur)... [More]
John T. Miles ~ 01-29-1960 to 05-01-2025

Linn County News Published October 8, 2025 John T. Miles, age 65, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Thursday, May 1, 2025. A celebration of John’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, “down in the boonies” at the whirlpool on... [More]
More Obituaries
- Paul David Hamilton ~ 11-07-1950 to 09-23-2025
- Lora Lynn West ~ 10-22-1959 to 09-24-2025
- Lois Ann Simons ~ 11-12-1937 to 09-27-2025
- Betty Joan Haupt ~ 10-03-1931 to 09-29-2025
- Carolyn Lee Wilson Dunlop ~ 12-15-1944 to 09-27-2025
- Angie Yeates Randall ~ 06-22-1967 to 09-22-2025
- William Howard Hansuld ~ 04-17-1960 to 09-19-2025
- Bernita Mae Ala ~ 02-28-1921 to 09-17-2025
NEWS
Suit filed in Sunshine Meadows building permit case

A court case has been filed in the 6th Judicial District in Linn County by Parker resident Jan Longenecker and 26 other plaintiffs against the Board of Zoning Appeals of Linn County to revoke building permits issued by the acting Zoning Administrator Ben Souza. Souza... [More]
Pleasanton demos asphalt zipper for street repair

The Pleasanton City Council and street crew had the opportunity to watch a live demonstration of an asphalt zipper last Wednesday on 8th Street between Cedar and Sycamore – a street with heavily damaged asphalt. Dave Fokken, Asphalt Zipper Government Sales rep, said many... [More]
La Cygne awards lift station bid

Generator emphasis is the final step in the $6.261 million wastewater project La Cygne leaders awarded a bid to replace every diesel-powered generator at the city’s three sewer lift stations to a Kansas City, Mo., firm. At last Wednesday’s regular meeting,... [More]
More News
- Appraiser’s office announces completion of review
- SPECIAL: KBI conducts statewide marijuana enforcement operation
- Pleasanton council vetoed on fire volunteer appointments
- Kansas Policy Institute talks property taxes with legislature
- Pleasanton city candidate forum Oct. 6
- County logo sees little change
- Linn County P&Z Appeals Board denies subdivision appeal
- Commissioners discuss suggestion to leave EDA position vacant
SPORTS
Lady Jays host league triangular and competes at Uniontown

The Pleasanton volleyball team had a busy week. First the team hosted a Three Rivers League triangular on Sept. 30 against Jayhawk Linn and Altoona Midway. Then on Oct. 4 the team traveled to Uniontown for the Uniontown Volleyball Invitational. To see the full article, check... [More]
Jayhawk volleyball has a busy successful week

The Jayhawk volleyball team was busy this past week as they had games on Sept. 30, Oct. 2, and Oct. 4. They traveled to Pleasanton on Sept. 30 to play a TRL triangular against Pleasanton and Altoona Midway. Then on Oct. 2 they hosted TRL foes Chetopa and Oswego. Then on Oct.... [More]
Jayhawk football wins thriller over Pleasanton on Homecoming

The Jayhawk Linn football team had a big game this past Friday on Oct. 3. Not only was it their Homecoming game but it was also a TRL/District game against their in-county rival the Pleasanton Blu-Jays. Both teams played hard and one could tell that both teams really wanted... [More]
More Sports
- Prairie View football dominates Burlington on Homecoming
- Pleasanton volleyball travels to Arma and Prairie View
- Jayhawk volleyball goes 4-0 on the week
- Pleasanton volleyball competes at Yates Center and Humboldt
- Prairie View football picks up a big win against Wellsville
- Jayhawk volleyball has a solid week going 3-0
- Seasoned Olpe powers over young 'Hawks
- Wade and Schneider start impressive girls’ golf season for the Buffalos and Hawks
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com
