HOISINGTON — Esther Lynne (Ochs) Hughes, 63, died Jan. 3, 2025, at her home in Hoisington, surrounded by her family. She was born Nov. 28, 1961, in Poteau, Okla., moving to Dodge City and then to Hoisington, Kan. by age 4. Esther comes from a large family, she was #6 of 9 siblings, five brothers and three sisters. Her parents were Robert “Bob” and Judy (Sherman) Ochs.

Esther struggled through school, but still graduated as a Junior, later finding out she had dyslexia. She loved sports, basketball, and softball and played the saxophone in school. Esther was an outdoors person. She loved to swim and fish, especially with family. Family meant everything to her.

Esther started working at age 12 to help make ends meet at home. First babysitting, then Ochs Gardening in the greenhouse, Fuller Brush, and many other jobs. 

She got married young then divorced before meeting her husband of 36+ years, Doug Hughes. They were married Sept. 12, 1986, in Great Bend, Kan. They had two children, Jennifer and Jonathon. Esther worked with her husband in their own auto repair business. She was a mechanic and office keeper for five years. After her husband was offered a better job, Esther went to work at the Hoisington Nursing Home working her way up to head cook. After several years of cooking, she became the deli manager at Hoisington Town & Country working there for nine years. She then went to work at Wal-Mart, starting in produce working her way up to support manager and backroom zone manager where she took care of all the inventory in the store. For years her health diminished, and she finally had to quit working.  

Esther is survived by her husband, Douglas Hughes of the home; daughter, Jennifer (Tracy) Welsch of Lawrence; son, Jonathan (Natalie) Hughes of Lyons; six grandchildren, Autumn and Drake Welsch, Shane and Josie Hughes, and Gracyn and BryAnn Zink; two sisters, Merri (Cliff) Basque of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Linette (Larry) Rhodes of Redmond, Wash.; two brothers, Robert (Wendy) Ochs of Enid, Okla., and Jason (Andrea) Ochs of Wichita; and a sister-in-law, Nancy Ochs of Boliver, Mo.; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bob and Judy Ochs; three brothers Dan, Randy, and Jack Ochs; a sister, Melody (Ochs) Unrein; and twin grandsons, Drew and Delaine Welsch.

“To all my family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances I have had the pleasure to play, sing, dance, joke and cry through good times and bad. I have been blessed to know and love you all. I finally get to be in Glory Land!”

Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, with family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral service will be 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9th, 2025, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home Chapel, with Chaplain Jeffrey Owen presiding. Burial will follow in Hoisington Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Hoisington Food Bank in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington KS 67544. Notices may be viewed and condolences sent at www.nicholsonrickefh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home

P.O. Box 146

Hoisington KS 67544

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Jan. 7, 2025