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
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]
More News
- 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
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

