Maria Carmen Ochoa

Our loving mother, Carmen Ochoa, age 87, of Othello Washington went to be with the Lord on July 13, 2013. She was surrounded by her devoted family. Carmen was born in Weldona, CO on July 18, 1925 to Jose and Maria Valdez. Carman’s identical twin sister, Josephine, came shortly afterward and until the day Carmen passed away they were inseparable. Carmen married Louis Ochoa in 1943, and together they had seven wonderful children. Sons: Louie (Susan), Al (Diane), Ed (Ruby), Daughters: Jeannie (Armando) Enriquez, Mary Ochoa, Josie (Rick) Koelzer, and Lori Hamilton. Carmen was blessed to have 20 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Along with her own children, Carmen viewed her twin’s children and grandchildren as her own. Carmen had the opportunity to be a stay at home mom and raise her family. Hers was one of the Columbia Basins pioneering families that made a farm out of sage brush and put irrigation water on the new land in 1952 in Warden, Washington. They then moved to Othello to farm, and then settled their own farm in Mesa in 1965. That farm is still in operation, owned and operated by her grandson. She worked for North Franklin School District as an elementary and adult Para Pro for 25 years. In that position she made lifelong friends. She was always willing to help those in the community. She had a passion for sewing, gardening, beading, and making beautiful personalized piñatas. Her family brought her her greatest joy. She always had her famous tortillas and Mexican dishes ready.

Carmen is survived by siblings, Josephine Cerna, Salvador and Gorgi Valdez, Marie Zaragoza, Belen Foltz and she is also survived by grandchildren: Louie Ochoa III, Renee (Health) Gimmestad, Larry (Amber) Ochoa, Mary (Jim) Smith, Vincent Enriquez, Michael Enriquez, Armando (Traci) Enriquez Jr., Brian (Shannon) Enriquez, AJ (Jodi) Ochoa, David (Shannon) Ochoa, Brett (Tabatha) Ochoa, Eddy (Dayna) Ochoa, Talia Ochoa, Blake (Dani) Koelzer, Lauryn Koelzer (Courtney) Hiari, Kala Koelzer, Dan (Cassie) Hamilton, Elizabeth Hamilton, Matthew Hamilton, and Gabrielle Hamilton as well as many other cherished family members. Carmen is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Louis Ochoa Sr., 3 sisters, 3 brothers, and son-in-law: Armando Enriquez Sr. The family of Carmen Ochoa deeply appreciates and gratefully acknowledges the kind assistance of: Mike, Manuela, Dezarae, Dina, Adolph, Eva, Lori, Brian, Shannon, and Rachel.