Alice Ann S (Sellers) Ochs

Beloved wife, mother, friend, and local volunteer and artist, Alice Ann S. Ochs returned home to her Lord and Savior on April 6, 2023 after a brief illness. Alice Ann, also called “AA” by those close to her, was fond of saying to those who were sad, hurting or upset, “Just Smile, and you and those around you will feel better.” She felt the most important relationship word other than love is “we” and the least important is “I”. Also, a good hug was one of the easiest things we could do to make people feel valued and comforted. She has been bringing love and light to her family, friends, and community for over 92 years.

Born to Iris and Bob Sellers, Alice Ann began her life’s journey in Paola Kansas. Her father was a monument builder that seeded her love for art and bringing form and beauty into the world. She recounted the many hours spent with her father checking monuments and headstones he had designed and placed and watching the artistic design process in their family shop. Her mother was a suffragette and graduate of Kansas University in 1917. She instilled in Alice Ann a fierce independence and self-sufficiency accompanied by no-nonsense common sense and dedication to community involvement.

Alice Ann throughout her life dedicated herself to improving the lives of others. She graduated from Kansas University in Kansas City with a degree in Physical Therapy. Having moved to Chicago to start her career, she took a position as a Physical Therapist with Liberty Mutual Insurance rehabilitating insureds’ employees injured in industrial accidents. Alice Ann loved the challenge of helping people return to a healthy functioning life.

Alice Ann met Harlan Ochs, a fellow Jayhawk, and began their 70 years of marriage in 1953. They remained in the Chicago area and welcomed their daughter into the world in 1955. Alice Ann loved to remind Harlan that she made much more money than he did when they were first married and starting a family. She was the breadwinner. Harlan’s work with IBM began to progress and the family moved to Endicott New York. This would not last long, as the call to move to Colorado Springs and join the family business was too strong and the lifestyle too appealing.

Alice Ann moved to Colorado Springs in 1958 where she and Harlan put down roots that would last the rest of her life. They welcomed their son into the family in 1963 and Alice Ann committed her life to raising her family, helping build and support her husband’s business, and being of service to Colorado Springs that she so dearly loved. Over the years, she became deeply involved in organizations to help lift the lives of people on a personal basis or on a community level and developing lifelong friendships. She especially enjoyed taking friends to Minnesota at a lake cabin that had been in the family for over 85 years. Since she was 10 years old, Alice Ann had been going to the cabin on Blue Lake and loved relaxing, swimming, fishing, and socializing with friends in Minnesota. Nothing better than the sound of a Loon call at sunset sitting around the bonfire with her lake friends.

Art became a very important part of her life in her 50’s. After raising her children and the family business on solid ground, Alice Ann returned to her art. Her preferred medium was sculpture. She plunged into her art with a passion and became very involved in not only developing her own talent but working to help others develop their talents. Bronze sculptures comprise most of her portfolio, but she loved sculpting marble, welding metal, terracotta, and other mediums. Expression through art and bringing beauty to the world was her desire but also to help others do the same.

Public Art Displays – Fine Arts Center Tactile Gallery (“Riley, His Only Trick” “The Gentle Pioneer” “The Professor”), Humane Society Colorado Springs (“Francie”), First United Methodist Church Memorial Garden (“Loving Arms” and “Come Unto Me”), Patty Jewett Golf Course (“Mr. William K. Jewett”), Cave of the Winds (“Wind Spirit”), Colorado Springs Public Library 21c (“Mrs. Peggy Shivers”), Colorado Springs Public Library Downtown (“Jazz”).

Alice Ann was blessed to study with Clayton Staples, Louis Cicotello, Gary Coulter, George Lundeen, Dr. Wilfred Stedman, Bruno Lucchesi, Bob Gottschall and Peter Rubino. One of her lasting memories was studying in Pietrasanta, Italy with master craftsmen in marble. Pietrasanta along with Carrara were the main sources of Michelangelo’s marble. She also was very fond of her time in collaboration with other sculptors when she helped start The Studio in Colorado Springs.

Involvements - Graduated as a Licensed Physical Therapist from Kansas University, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Lifeguard Paola Municipal Pool, Physical Therapist for Liberty Mutual Insurance, Memorial Hospital, Junior League, Cerebral Palsy Association, Pioneer Museum, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Citizens Goal, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Debutante Ball Committee, Fine Arts Center Tactile Gallery, Arati Artist Gallery, The Tycoons Investment Club, Reach Your Peak – UCCS, First United Methodist Church Visual Arts, Public and Private Art commissions throughout Colorado Springs.

Alice Ann was preceded in death by her parents Iris and Bob Sellers, sister and brother-in-law Bobette and Howard Perry. She is survived by her husband, Harlan L. Ochs, daughter, Catherine L. Ochs, son, Charles L. Ochs and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to join us for a visitation at Swan-Law Funeral Home May 10, 2023 from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. Funeral services open to all to be held at the First United Methodist Church located at 420 N. Nevada Avenue on May 11, 2023 at 11:00 am. Live streaming is available at www.fumc-cs.org/memorial-service-videos. Instead of flowers, Alice Ann would love donations directed to the First United Methodist Church, the Pioneer Museum, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, or Reach Your Peak - UCCS. Please join us and bring your SMILE.