William Wesley Bright
06-20-1921 to 01-17-2020
Linn County News
Published Jan. 22, 2020
William Wesley Bright passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020. He was 98 years old. He was born in Foster, Mo., on June 20, 1921, to John and Lelah (James) Bright.
He graduated from Nyhart school in eighth grade in a one-room school house. After graduating he started working cutting wood and many other jobs and as a mechanic for Wesley Conner in Amoret, Mo.
In 1963 he bought the family farm where he resided the last 56 years. William spent his life farming, raising cattle and pigs. He retired from farming in 1979; however, he had a full herd of cattle until August 2018. He was an avid gardener, hunter and fisherman and could fix anything that was broken.
He will be remembered for his kindness and compassion. His kids and grandkids all knew when he hollered, they had better be running. But he would be the first to help out in the kitchen to get strawberries mashed and make sure they had enough sugar.
William married Vivian Vail on Jan. 29, 1947, in Fort Scott at the courthouse. To this marriage were born eight children, 15 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren.
He is survived by his siblings, Jack (Verna) Bright and Goldie Schnichels; eight children, Janet (Jim) O’Brien, Roy (Kim) Bright, Gene (Carol) Bright, Charles (Denese) Bright, Mary (Bob) Casey, Dale Bright, Pam (Marty) Carroll and Jeannie Kerr; 15 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; and three great, great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings Lula, Bonnie and Connie; a grandson, Eric O’Brien; and a great grandson, Tyler.
Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday Jan. 22, 2020, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Burial will be in the Woodfin Cemetery. Visitation was scheduled from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Schneider Chapel.
Contributions are suggested to Good Sheppard Hospice. 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]
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- NOTICE
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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
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