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
Jean Driskell ~ 03-22-1943 to 07-18-2025

Linn County News Published July 23, 2025 Jean Driskell, age 82, formerly of La Cygne, Kan., passed away Friday, July 18, 2025. Memorial service will be held 7 p.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Schneider Funeral Home, La Cygne Chapel. Visitation... [More]
Burton Clyde Brownback ~ 05-21-1953 to 07-13-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Burton Clyde Brownback, age 72, Tri-Ko resident in Osawatomie, Kan., passed away Sunday, July 13, 2025. He was born on May 21, 1953, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Clyde and Shirley Drake Brownback. He graduated from Prairie View... [More]
Ruth Ann Antrim ~ 05-21-1951 to 07-07-2025

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]
More Obituaries
- Helen Maxine Wright ~ 05-28-1939 to 06-19-2025
- Kelly Kehl ~ 03-25-1938 to 06-28-2025
- Kandi Kay Cruse ~ 03-29-1958 to 06-27-2025
- Jessica Cae Pritchett ~ 08-30-1981 to 06-26-2025
- Jackie Junior “Jack” Hewitt ~ 07-17-1935 to 06-18-2025
- Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025
- Ron Arbogast ~ 08-31-1946 to 06-05-2025
- Richard “Dick” Smith ~ 04-18-1942 to 06-22-2025
NEWS
Special: Resurfacing to begin on U.S. 69 in Linn County

A Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) resurfacing project on U.S. 69 in Linn County will begin the week of July 28. The project will resurface U.S. 69 with ultrathin bonded asphalt for just over 7 miles from Pleasanton to just north of... [More]
Pleasanton FD again at center of heated discussion

The majority of heated discussion came at the end of the Pleasanton City Council meeting Monday night during council discussion when Council people Bill Skipper and Angelina Randall squared off concerning the recent ISO inspection that occurred at the fire department. Skipper... [More]
La Cygne city to be below revenue neutral

Ad valorem revenue will decrease by almost $16,600, levy by over 7.6 mills The city of La Cygne will not only be revenue neutral but actually below neutral on its 2026 municipal budget. That was the report from Jodi Wade, city clerk, at last Wednesday’s regular... [More]
More News
- USD 362 files revenue-neutral exceedances
- Commissioners discuss airport future, request more information
- SPECIAL: Resurfacing on U.S. 59 in Anderson County to begin in August 4
- Commissioners vote to exceed revenue neutral
- Mulberry Limestone CUP approved by P & Z
- SPECIAL: Benefits question an issue for county employees
- Commissioners discuss various budgets
- City learns of fire gear condition
SPORTS
Pleasanton trapshooting team shows grit at National Championship

Eight members of the Pleasanton Trapshooting Team traveled to Mason, Mich., last week to compete in the USA Clay Target League National Championship. Five members participated in the team event, and all eight competed individually. The team was among 264 qualified teams competing... [More]
Blue Mound softball earns second place at Crest

The Blue Mound girls’ coach pitch team 1 places second at the TRL girls’ coach pitch tournament at Colony. The tournament took place from July 7 to July 9.
More Sports
- Nobodys wins Blue Mound co-ed softball tournament
- Pleasanton 12-14 baseball wins championship
- Gratton at Nationals
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship
- Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad
- Prairie View trapshooting competes at State
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