Jetmore- Nola Essie Ochs passed away on December 9, 2016, at Manor of the Plains, Dodge City, Kansas. She was born November 22, 1911, near Ramsey, in Fayette County, Illinois, the oldest daughter of Ollie and Ethel (Lawson) Hill.

Nola’s family moved to a farm near Ainsworth, Nebraska, and she attended elementary school in small, rural, one-teacher schools there. In 1927, the family moved to Hodgeman County, Kansas, and Nola graduated from Dodge City High School in 1929. After high school graduation, Nola taught four terms in rural, one-room schools, in Hodgeman County.

Nola was happily married to Vernon Ochs on September 3, 1933, and her earthly claim to fame was being the mother of Vernon’s four sons. Vernon passed away January 30, 1972. Nola spent the remainder of her life on the farm surrounded by her sons and their families.

Nola served on the Ochs school board for many years. She served on the Hodgeman County Extension board, and the Southwest Kansas Library Board. She was a member of Grace Community Church, Dodge City, since its founding in 1988.

After the death of her husband, Vernon, Nola began to take classes at Dodge City Community College in Dodge City, Kansas, graduating in 1988. In 1991, she enrolled as a full-time student at Saint Mary of the Plains College, with the dream of graduating from a four-year college, but the college closed before that dream could be fulfilled.

At the age of 95, Nola moved to Hays, Kansas, to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree, which she earned in 2007. She went on to earn a Master’s Degree from Fort Hays State University in 2010, making history as the oldest college graduate ever. Nola was a guest on the Jay Leno show and was given a 9-day cruise to the Caribbean with her granddaughter, Alexandra, who graduated with her from Fort Hays in 2007. She remained in college until the age of 100, when her family welcomed her back to the farm to spend the rest of her life. Those remaining years, she wrote a book of her life’s memoirs, which is in the process of being published.

Nola had researched her family’s genealogy extensively and she traveled the world meeting newfound relatives from all over the United States and Europe. She spent many days researching on the computer, even when her sight and hearing failed her.

Survivors include two sons and their wives, Loren and Kay Ochs, and Alan and Julie Ochs, all of rural Jetmore; two daughters-in-law, Karen Ochs and Joyce Ochs, also of rural Jetmore; grandchildren and their families include: Carol and Jeff Jarnigan (Jarvis, Jesse, Jenna and Troy Krehbiel) great-great granddaughter Emily Krehbiel); Steve and Stephanie Ochs (Janae and Ryan Falconer, Garrett and fiance, Kelsey, and Taylor); Brad Ochs and companion Penny (Gentry); Michael and Stephanie Ochs (Jennifer and Cody Lampe, Jordan, and Joshua); Jim and Debbie Ochs (Jo’beth, Samantha, Charlotte and Benjamin); Dave and Theresa Ochs (Jace, Reis and Carter); Tom Ochs; Kathy and Darin Headrick (step-great grandsons, Slade and Cody Headrick); Marti and Paul Vicars (Levi, Cash and Knox); Sarah and Pete Bennett; Alexandra and Bobby Rainbolt (Hope Essie); Colby, and Jessilyn.

Nola is preceeded in death by her husband, Vernon, one brother, Ollie Hill, one sister, Lillie Hubbell, two sons, Charles Ochs and Marion Ochs, and one great grandson, John Lawrence Ochs.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at Grace Community Church, Dodge City, Kansas, with Rev. Kirk Larson presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. to Tuesday and Wednesday at Beckwith Funeral Home, Jetmore. Graveside will be at 2:30 p.m. at the Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hodgeman County Long Term Care Center, Jetmore, in care of Beckwith Funeral Home, Box 663, Jetmore, Kansas 67854.