Audrey J. Nilhas
Audrey J. Nilhas, 82, died Saturday, May 27, 2017 at Western Plains Medical Complex, Dodge City.
She was born February 1, 1935 at Ft. Dodge, KS, the daughter of George A. and Philma (Randall) Messer, Sr. A lifetime area resident, she attended grade school at Ft. Dodge and Dodge City High School. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and homemaker.
On March 8, 1951 she married William Huffman at Dodge City. He preceded her in death on November 23, 1953. On August 15, 1957 she married Merle W. Nilhas at Ft. Dodge. He preceded her in death on May 18, 2008.
Audrey became a Christian, accepting the Lord in 1955. She was a member of Dodge City Church of Christ most of her life and co-taught Sunday school for over 30 years.
Audrey enjoyed many hobbies including cake decorating, floral design, quilting, needlecrafts, drawing and baking favorite dishes for her family and friends. She was a member of the Sew & Sew Club and a volunteer at the VA Clinic and gift shop at Ft. Dodge.
She leaves behind 4 children, Norma (Huffman) Noland, Merlene Nilhas, Jeff Nilhas and wife Pam, Dodge City; Barbara (Nilhas) Rich and husband Doug, Lawrence, Kansas; 4 granddaughters Darcie (Rich) Osgood and husband Chad, Lawrence, KS, Diantha (Noland) Foster and fiancé Jason Rutledge, Cheyenne, Wyoming, Lindsey (Rich) Heckert and husband Chad, Kansas City, Missouri and Amber Nilhas, Dodge City; 4 great-grandchildren Gavin and Damien Rutledge, Tyler and Isabella Osgood. 1 brother LeRoy Messer, Dallas, Oregon.
She was also preceded in death by a son, William Huffman, Jr. in 2002, great granddaughter, Fiona Rutledge, 4 brothers, Harry, Philip, George and Charles Messer and 4 sisters, Aleatha Davis, Gladys Wall, Mary Wright and Alice Popham.
Funeral services will be 1:30 pm Friday, June 2, 2017 at the Dodge City Church of Christ with Gary Bennett officiating. Burial will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City. Visitation will be Thursday from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.
The family suggests memorials to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Dodge City Church of Christ in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.
