Richard Neal Smith, 63, went home to be with the Lord Aug. 30, 2015, at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Richard was born Feb. 25, 1952, to Roy Jr., and Marianna Sutterby Smith in Fort Scott, Kan. He graduated from Blue Mound High School in 1970 and then furthered his education with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Kansas University.
Richard met the love of his life on a double date in high school and married Susan (Rogers) Jan. 13, 1973. Richard and Susan were blessed with three children, their spouses and five grandchildren, Samuel Smith, his wife, Jennifer, and their son, Cooper, of Shawnee, Kan.; Ted Smith, his wife, Allison, and their children, Avery and Natalie, of Belton, Texas; and Lattica Smith Foster, her husband, Daniel, and their children, Tanner and Hayden, of the Netherlands. Richard is also survived by his mother-in-law, Eleanor Rogers, of Mapleton, Kan.; two brothers, Phillip of Paola, Kan., and Stan and his wife, Frankie, of La Harpe, Kan.; and his sister, Jennifer Smith Hughes, and her husband, Mike, of Blue Mound, Kan.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents.
He worked for Spectra Energy and its predecessors for 40 years. Richard became a Master Mason in 1974, a member of The Scottish Rite in Fort Scott, Kan., and a member of Abdallah Shrine in Overland Park, Kan. He was also a Past Patron of Union #15 Order of the Eastern Star in Ottawa, Kan., and a Past Patron and active member in Tomball Chapter #838 Order of the Eastern Star and Tomball Lodge #1096. He was also a longtime member of Cypresswood Free Methodist Church of Spring, Texas.
He enjoyed wood working, computers, habitat projects and fun times with his family and colleagues.
Richard and Susan moved to Belton, Texas, in 2014 to be closer to family, his pride and joy!
Richard fought a brave battle with cancer. His love of life, encouraging and positive attitude and heartwarming smiles will always be with us.
A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, at 10 a.m. at Klein Funeral Home in Tomball, Texas, with The Order of the Eastern Star and Masonic Lodge services. Kevin Niemann will officiate. The family will receive friends and family from 9-10 a.m. prior to the service. Burial services will be in Mapleton, Kan., at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to https://gifts.mdanderson.org for Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma (EHE) cancer research or https://rebuildhouston.org.
OBITUARIES
Debra Dale Wolf ~ 04-03-1954 to 03-22-2023

Linn County News Published March 29, 2023 Debra Dale Wolf, age 68, Linn Valley, Kan., passed away Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Graveside funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at the Trading Post Cemetery. Memorial contributions... [More]
Jessica Erin Cox ~ 11-15-1979 to 03-20-2023

Linn County News Published March 29, 2023 Jessica Erin Cox, beloved daughter, and granddaughter, passed away at her home in Lawrence, Kan., March 20, 2023. Jessica was born Nov. 15, 1979, at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She was a graduate of Shawnee... [More]
Larry Ray Oliver ~ 07-12-1953 to 03-22-2023

Linn County News Published March 29, 2023 Larry Ray Oliver, age 69, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Funeral service will be at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Visitation... [More]
More Obituaries
- Buford Wayne “Bud” Lindsey ~ 11-21-1934 to 03-15-2023
- Vance Laverne Bruner ~ 07-01-1959 to 03-17-2023
- Curtis Eugene Virgin ~ 09-09-1944 to 03-14-2023
- Janice Ann Leasure Woodrum ~ 05-04-1948 to 03-05-2023
- Lewis Michael Wilson ~ 08-13-1952 to 03-05-2023
- Janet Dean Robinson Staton ~ 02-16-1939 to 03-08-2023
- Margaret Ellen McRae ~ 01-30-1932 to 03-06-2023
- C.H. Parker ~ 08-24-1942 to 03-06-2023
NEWS
SPECIAL: National Walking Day on Wednesday, April 5th

Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge is celebrating National Walking Day on Wednesday, April 5th by inviting the public to come out and walk with a ranger for a preview of our new trail. The Visitor Center and new exhibits will be open form 4-6 PM and... [More]
SPECIAL: Drug operation ends with six arrests in Miami and Linn counties

MIAMI & LINN COUNTY – On Wednesday morning, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Miami County Sheriff’s Office, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Osawatomie Police Department, and the Pleasanton Police Department arrested six individuals... [More]
Linn County Planning & Zoning Commission says no to windmills

After meetings discussing the Linn County Comprehensive Plan and where the county should be as to allowing wind turbines, the Linn County P&Z said no 5-3 to allowing any turbines in the county. P&Z Commission Chair Richard Morrell brought the subject up after several... [More]
More News
- Heartland REC introduces possible Linn County solar field
- County appraiser reports on valuation increases
- One-cent sales tax coming on Pleasanton ballot
- SPECIAL: Pleasanton One-Cent Sales Tax Questions
- Commissioner’s discussion on wage options gets heated
- County discusses options for Pleasanton meal site
- Parker leaders consider truck route
- Council approves land grant for riding academy
SPORTS
2022-23 All County Boys’ Basketball team

The season for the Linn County high school boys’ basketball teams is over and it’s time for this year’s All County Boys’ Basketball team. This year, there is a first and second team with five players on each team from the three local high schools, Prairie... [More]
2022-23 All County Girls’ Basketball team

The season for the Linn County high school girls’ basketball teams is over and it’s time for this year’s All County Girls’ Basketball team. This year, there is a first and second team with five players on each team from the three local high schools,... [More]
More Sports
- Linn County Twisters takes 13 to State, 5 place
- Lady Buffs win 1, fall in semifinals
- Pleasanton basketball falls in the first round of Sub-State
- White places sixth for Jayhawk wrestling at State
- Kline and Cox-Halliburton represent Prairie View at State
- Prairie View basketball splits against Anderson County
- Lady Hawks double up Altoona
- Pleasanton basketball defeats Bronaugh, falls to Cherokee

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