Nola Gardner Welsh

NOLA K. “NODY” GARDNER WELSH Graveside Military Services for Nola K. “Nody” Gardner Welsh will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, September 25 at Arriola Cemetery. Nola was born April 15, 1920 at Arriola, Montezuma County, Colo. She was the first daughter born to Jewell Short Gardner and George S. Gardner. She passed away in Boulder, Colo. on September 20, 2009 at the age of 89. Nola attended grades 1 through 8 at Arriola, then 9 and 10 at Garrett Ridge High School, where most of the time she rode horseback to school. Her last two years of school were at Cortez Union High School; at that time there was no bussing so Nola stayed in private homes and worked for her room and board. Nola was a very good student and earned a little extra money by “grading papers” for some of the teachers. Following graduation she attended Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she again worked for her “room and board” by living in a private home. Nola wanted to further her education and graduated from a three year Nursing Program from Mercy Hospital in Durango and Denver in 1943. She also attended two years of graduate school at the University of Colorado in Boulder earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health in 1951. She married Wendell Welsh in Reno, Nev. on December 15, 1943. To this union one child was born, Michelle D. Welsh. Nola and her husband, Wendell lived in Boulder, Colo. where they owned and operated “Wendell’s Auto Wrecking Yard” for many years. Nola joined the U.S. Army September 1, 1944 where she became a 1st Lieutenant. She served in the field hospitals in the South Pacific, Saipan, Okinawa and Guam for two years. Following Wendell’s death in 1985 Nola continued in business rentals until her health began to fail. Surviving Nola are her daughter, Michelle D. Welsh of Boulder, Colo.; her sister, Lavena Saunders of Cortez; nephews, Ken Saunders and wife, Tina, and Harry Rogers and companion, Judy Follman; great niece and nephew, Jamie Bradshaw and husband, Tim and Wayne H. Rogers all of Dolores; aunt, Laura Hill and son, Jim of Seattle, Wash.; and cousins, Grady Gardner and wife, Gayle, Lynn Gardner and wife, Dolly, Roberta Williams and husband, Ken, Delos Fulks all of this area. She also leaves behind a close friend, Rick Lutz and many friends in Boulder, Colo. Nola was preceded in death by her parents, George and Jewell Gardner; husband, Wendell Welsh; sister, Mona “Andy” Rogers; and brother-in-law, Wayne Rogers.