Mickey Lynn

Mickey J. Lynn, age 78, of Iola, Kansas, died Monday, April 6, 2009, at her home. She leaves her husband of 59 years, Emerson Lynn, Jr. She was born September 9, 1930, to Nell Watson and Walter William Killough in Elk City, Oklahoma. The family followed her father's career with International Harvester to Des Moines, Iowa, and Melbourne, Australia. She attended the University of Melbourne where as a freshman she met Emerson Lynn, Jr., who also was a student there as a Rotary Fellow. They fell in love in short order and were married on January 27, 1950. They returned to the United States and first lived in Wichita where Emerson worked for the Wichita Beacon as a general reporter and then farm editor. In 1951, they moved to Humboldt, where they published the Humboldt Union. Mickey kept the Union's books and worked as a reporter, while also raising their children. For one legislative session, she ran the entire operation while Emerson worked as an Associated Press intern covering the Legislature. In 1958, they bought the Bowie (Texas) News, also a weekly newspaper, and continued the tradition of small town journalism. In 1965, they moved to Iola and purchased the Iola Register from his uncle, Angelo C. Scott. Mickey was a lifelong giver. She served on the boards of the Ecumenical Christian Ministries for the Regents Universities, Iola Housing Authority, Girl Scouts, and as a deacon and elder of First Presbyterian Church. The church recognized her as its "Woman Of The Year" in 2007. She was an avid gardener and volunteer, excellent cook and gracious host. She set a beautiful table and bore the standard for entertaining. She traveled the world with her husband and had a keen interest in politics and world events. Other survivors include her children, Emerson K. and his wife, Suzanne, of St. Albans, Vt., Michael J. and his wife, Beverly, New Haven, Conn., Angelo S., Middlebury, Vt., and Susan Lynn and her husband, Dr. Brian Wolfe, Iola; 13 grandchildren; a brother, Walter W. Killough, Keneohe, Hawaii, several cousins and a multitude of friends. VISITATION: 5:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday, April 9, 2009, at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola, Kansas. FUNERAL SERVICE: 3:00 p.m., Friday, April 10, 2009, at the First Presbyterian Church in Iola. The Rev. Jim Rausch will officiate. BURIAL: Highland Cemetery in Iola, Kansas MEMORIAL: Friends of the Bowlus Memorial gifts may be left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences for the family may be left at this website.