Reta N. (Boyd) Kennedy, 88, of Prairie Village, Kan., died Sunday, June 14, 2015.
Reta was born Feb. 23, 1927, to William S. and Hallie J. (French) Boyd in rural Crawford County near Hepler, Kan., following her twin sister Rema by just a few hours. She graduated from Hepler High School in 1944, and that fall, began teaching in a one-room school house, starting a career that would span nearly 50 years. Reta taught school and took classes during the summer, earning her teaching degree from Pittsburg State University in 1953.
Following graduation, she moved to Kansas City, Kan. She taught at elementary schools in Johnson and Wyandotte counties including Prairie, Porter, Junction, and Oak Grove. She also founded and operated Pixie Pre-School at the First Baptist Church of Turner while her children were young. She retired in 1990.
Reta was an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Turner Fortnightly Club and the Retired Teachers Association of Wyandotte County. At Grinter Chapel, she was active with the United Methodist Women, the Laura Dell Circle and supporting Cancer Action.
Reta joined the Oxford Fellowship group in the early 1950s, where she met her future husband, Kenneth M. Kennedy Jr. They were married Sept. 3, 1960. In 1961, they moved to the Turner neighborhood of KCK where they raised two children, and enjoyed gardening and traveling together for many years. Reta truly enjoyed the company of family, and found joy in hosting large holiday gatherings. She also enjoyed sewing and crafting with many projects simultaneously in progress.
She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth, and sisters Thora Byers, Neva Coester and Rema Dalton. She is survived by her children Gayle K. Callahan (Mike), Prairie Village, Kan., Warren B. Kennedy (Gisela), Bonner Springs, Kan.; and three grandchildren, Connor Callahan, Cameron Kennedy, and Brianne Kennedy. The family would like to thank Brighton Gardens and Crossroads Hospice for the special care Reta received.
Visitation will be from 9 - 10 a.m., with funeral following at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, at Porter Funeral Home, 1835 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS 66102. Burial will be in Pleasanton, Kan. on Wednesday, June 17 at 1:30 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to Grinter Chapel United Methodist Church, Kansas City, Kan., where she was a member for over 50 years.
Condolences may be expressed at www.porterfuneralhome.com . Arrangements: Porter Funeral Home & Crematory, 1835 Minnesota Ave. Kansas City, KS (913) 621-6400.
OBITUARIES
Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith passed away Saturday June 7, 2025, at the Stoneybrook Retirement Community in Manhattan. She was born on Nov. 19, 1935, in Topeka, Kan., to Neil and Gladys (Goldsmith)... [More]
Ron Arbogast ~ 08-31-1946 to 06-05-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Ron Arbogast, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, coach, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on June 5, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was 78. Born Aug. 31, 1946, in Fort Scott, Kan.,... [More]
Richard “Dick” Smith ~ 04-18-1942 to 06-22-2025

Linn County News Published June 25, 2025 Richard "Dick" Smith, age 83, formerly of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away in Olathe, Kan., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Graveside Service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Pleasanton Cemetery. Contributions... [More]
More Obituaries
- Charles Edwin Sutterby ~ 06-20-1951 to 06-19-2025
- Windfred Allen DeMott ~ 09-15-1940 to 06-07-2025
- Maxine Breuel ~ 11-20-1926 to 06-07-2025
- Richard Paul Henderson ~ 07-26-1950 to 06-01-2025
- 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
NEWS
NOTICE:

Due to a scheduling conflict, the commissioners will not be meeting today, June 25th, for a second budget workshop. The meeting has been rescheduled for July 2nd.
Tanglewood Lakes files suit against Board of County Commissioners

Requests declaratory judgement that roads are private The Tanglewood Lakes Owners Association, Inc. (TLOA), filed a lawsuit in Linn County District Court on June 6, 2025, against the Linn County Board of County Commissioners requesting a declaratory judgement from... [More]
Case filed alleging exploitation of minors, breach of privacy

On June 20, following an extensive investigation by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Linn County Attorney’s Office filed a case in district court charging Erik Hellner, a Sugar Valley Lakes resident, with six separate felonies. The case originally stems from... [More]
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- La Cygne executes pool bond defeasance
- CANCELED: Statewide Purple Alert issued for missing Yates Center woman
- Parker mayor seeks affidavits to file charges
- USD 346 board learns of overpayments
- NOTICE
- Commissioners discuss estimate on overlay project
- Pleasanton council meeting heated over fire personnel interviews
- La Cygne gas customers may see rate decrease
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
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

