MELVERN, Kan. – Olive Bell Hotchkiss, 87, passed away Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Homestead Assisted Living, Osage City, Kan. She was born Sept. 1, 1938, in Marietta, Okla., the daughter of Mackie and Ruth (Clapp) Gourley.
Olive married Roger Hotchkiss on April 9, 1971, in Melvern, Kan.
Olive was a first grade teacher at Melvern Grade School for 27 years.
Olive was preceded in death by her husband, Roger, Dec. 2, 2014; parents, Mackie and Ruth; two brothers, Felter Bridges and Olen Bridges; and a son, Ritchie Hotchkiss.
Olive is survived by her a brother, Sydney Bridges, of Alabama; sister, Alice Moore, Durant Okla.; two sons, Dennis (Patty) Hotchkiss, Lakeland, Fla., and Steve Hotchkiss, Olivet, Kan.; three daughters, Ruth Farwell, Melvern, Mackie (Terry) Jamison, Waverly, Kan., and Tina Hotchkiss, Hays, Kan.; 10 grandchildren, Christi (Curt) Allen, Melvern, Travis (Sharna Crow) Farwell, Holton, Kan., Tangela (Chris) Moore, Lyndon, Kan., Markus (Jamie) Seems of Bailey, Colo., Dolan Jamison, Lyndon, Desmon (Andy) Retallick, Lyndon, Aften Seems, Hays, Tuesdae Young, Melvern, Crayton Hotchkiss, Lakeland, and Adam (Dana) Hotchkiss, Kissimmee Fla.; 13 great grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 27, at Feltner Funeral Chapel, Lyndon. Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery, east of Melvern. The family will receive friends on 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Melvern Community Center or Homestead Assisted Living in Osage City, sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, KS 66451. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.feltnerfuneralhome.com.
