LAHARPE — LaHarpe Mayor Ella Mae Crowell died at her home Tuesday.
Crowell, 65, was found shortly before noon Tuesday after relatives and authorities were asked to do a welfare check, Allen County Sheriff Anthony Maness said, when she didn’t show up for work as a paraprofessional at Iola Elementary School.
“She was found before we arrived,” Maness said.
The death did not appear to be suspicious.
Crowell had served as LaHarpe’s mayor since 2015, and was a City Council member prior to that. She also served as the city’s code enforcement officer before entering elective politics.
City Council member Sharlyn Thompson, the Council’s president, automatically becomes mayor, as per state statute.
That leaves a vacancy for Thompson’s old seat on the five-member Council, which is scheduled to meet for its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Thompson’s duties on the Council included working closely with Crowell on such things as seeking grants for various community projects.
“I learned a lot from her,” Thompson told the Register.
The City of LaHarpe announced via Facebook that Crowell’s family will host a celebration of life from 2 to 4 p.. Saturday, March 28, at LaHarpe City Hall.
Condolences may be dropped off at City Hall or mailed to P.O. Box 10, LaHarpe, KS 66751.
