Linn County News
Published Nov. 11, 2020
Vera F. (Irwin) Williamson, age 94 (when we were kids she always said she was 29,) passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, reunited in heaven with A.K. “Kay”, her beloved husband of 62 years. Mom saved and cherished the love letters dad sent while serving in the Marines during WWII. Mom loved coffee! She would drink a pot of coffee a day. One time when we were living in what we called The Big House, I found her stockpile of Folger’s coffee in the old cupboard on the back porch. She said, ‘I don’t want to run out!’
She also loved popcorn, and an occasional snickers bar. As kids growing up, every Sunday night, popcorn was what we had for dinner. Big bowls of hot buttery popcorn, popped on top of the stove; that comforting aroma filled the house.
Mom and dad were wonderful parents, creating the childhood of dreams for us kids. We went fishing and camping every weekend. Mom would fry up the tiniest fish we caught (with fried potatoes and onions). We were leading the life of kings!
Music and church
were an important part of her life. She played piano and organ at church
for 50 years and was also the Choir Director. When we were young, she sat
with her back to the congregation at the piano. She had a mirror on the
side where she could see if we were behaving. If not, she would make us go
sit beside her on the piano bench; you never wanted that to happen.
Mom began working outside of the home long before most women. Her career
spanned 30 years for the Kansas State Dept. of Social and Rehabilitation Services; working
as Tri-County Supervisor with the focus on child and adult protection, foster care
and nursing home licensing. She was a founding board member of the Southeast
Kansas Tri-County Mental Health Dept. and Chairman of the Tri-County Community
Corrections Advisory Board; serving on both for over 30 years. She rarely
spoke about what she did, but we always knew she dedicated her life to helping
others.
Described as a community leader and path finder, she was also actively involved with the Methodist Church and the American Legion Auxiliary, serving every position from President on down over the years. Mom created an extensive genealogy collection and when asked why, she laughed and said she was looking for the horse thief! She traced our ancestry and became a member of DAR.
Becoming snow birds, mom and dad lived in South Texas every winter for over 25 years. There you could find her leading the Kitchen Band, Computer Club, Dances, Quilting and Red Hats. You knew never to call her at 4 p.m. because she would be at a Patio Party; she loved having fun! If you ever had the pleasure of being in her home you know how beautifully she displayed her collections. She loved antiques, collectables, crocks, milk bottles and Santa Claus (she loved Christmas!) etc. She enjoyed her extensive stamp and coin collections and in her free time, she hand-quilted over 17 full sized quilts. Mom was a speed reader and could read a book in a day. She enjoyed mystery books and called them Whodunnit’s. As a small-town gal, mom loved the excitement of traveling and cruising. For her 90th birthday celebration our family went on a cruise. The word around Mound City was ‘Did you go on the Cruise?’ as it seemed the whole town knew! A cherished memory. We celebrate the wonderful life of our beautiful, sweet mother. Looking forward to our next Five Star Day! (what we call a perfect day) when we will see her smile again, in Heaven.
Funeral service
will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, at the Mound City United Methodist
Church with burial in the Woodland Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m.
to service time at the Church. Contributions are suggested to the
Methodist Church, c/o Schneider Funeral Home, P.O. Box J, Mound City, KS
66056. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.
OBITUARIES
Gary Ray Johnson ~ 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025

Linn County News Published June 4, 2025 Gary Ray Johnson, age 90 of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on May 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, June 2, 2025, at the Schneider Funeral Home in Pleasanton, Kan. Visitation... [More]
Rees Lyle Shattuck ~ 08-31-1931 to 05-26-2025

Linn County News Published May 28, 2025 Rees Lyle Shattuck, age 93, Prescott, Kan., passed away Monday, May 26, 2025. He was born on Aug. 31, 1931, in Boicourt, Kan., the son of Rees Wilbur and Lulu Elizabeth Black Shattuck. He served his country in the United... [More]
Wayne Eldon Long ~ 07-03-1942 to 05-24-2025

Linn County News Published May 28, 2025 Wayne Eldon Long, age 82, of Parker, Kan., passed away on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Wayne was born on July 3, 1942, in Garnett, Kan., the son of Homer Leon and Margaret Ethel (Collins) Long. He was one of three children and... [More]
More Obituaries
- John Ted Miles ~ 01-29-1960 to 05-01-2025
- Zachary Eldon White ~ 06-12-1992 to 04-29-2025
- Rebecca S. Landers 12-30-1964 to 04-18-2025
- Ira Johnathan “Sonny” Robinson ~ 04-10-1944 to 04-26-2025
- Paul Dean Benham ~ 09-23-1944 to 04-26-2025
- Bonnie Faye Bishop ~ 03-25-1949 to 04-22-2025
- Lois A. Murray ~ 11-03-1931 to 04-20-2025
- Dr. Howard F. Wilson ~ 02-05-1938 to 04-20-2025
NEWS
SPECIAL: Commission to vote Monday on Parker Center lease

Linn County commissioners plan to vote at their weekly 9 a.m. meeting next Monday, June 2, on a 99-year lease agreement with Parker and their Senior Center building. At Tuesday's weekly Commission meeting, delayed by a day because of Monday's federal Memorial Day observance,... [More]
Despite Chamber loss, Blast in the Park fireworks will go off

Council actions include split vote on deed conveyance Hearing of the disbandment of its local Chamber of Commerce, La Cygne leaders have verbally concurred that the city’s part in the annual Blast in the Park festivities will go on. Following that Chamber notification... [More]
Linn Valley discusses city hall funding sources

The Linn Valley City Council held its bi-monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025, with Mayor Lew Donelson presiding and all council members present. Donelson informed the council of two potential opportunities for funding a new City Hall building. ... [More]
More News
- USD 362 board rejects adding bus A/C
- SPECIAL: Blue Mound man seriously injured in accident
- Commissioners make official statement on Tanglewood roads
- La Cygne okays local police firing range
- Mound City council adopts rules for camping
- LCSO releases statement on incident
- Pleasanton requests 1-year automatic aid fire extension
- Commissioners hear update, discuss aid agreement for Pleasanton FD
SPORTS
Jayhawk track breaks another school record and qualifies multiple athletes for State

The Jayhawk Linn track team traveled to West Franklin on May 22 to compete in the 3A Regional. As a team the girls placed 10th with a score of 22.5 points while the boys were fifth with 56 points. This year the top three places in each event qualify for the State meet then... [More]
School records and State qualifiers are made for the Jays at Eureka

The Pleasanton track team traveled to Eureka on May 22 for a 2A Regional track meet. This year the top three places advance to the State meet along the top four times/distances not from the top three from all other Regionals. This year the Jays qualified eight athletes in seven... [More]
More Sports
- Lady Hawks win league as Hawks host TRL meet
- Pleasanton track sets school records at Pioneer League track meet
- Prairie View track sets meet and league records at Wellsville
- Pleasanton baseball splits against Jayhawk
- Prairie View softball defeats Osawatomie and Girard
- Jayhawk baseball earns win over Pleasanton
- Prairie View track has a great day as they host home invitational
- Jayhawk track places top three at Prairie View
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

