Gayla Gottsch O'Connell, 52, died Monday, January 15, 2018, at her home in St. Louis, Missouri.  She was born September 18, 1965, in El Dorado, to Harold and Dona (Molz) Gottsch.

Gayla graduated from Hutchinson High School and attended Hutchinson Community College and Kansas State University. She was a flight attendant for TWA and later, a licensed massage therapist.

Gayla is survived by:  dad and stepmom, Harold and Jean of Hutchinson; sisters, Karen Thorsell and husband George of Chanute, Linda Dixon and husband Bob of Leavenworth, Janice Wood and husband Craig of Overland Park; close friend, Roger Shultz; former mother-in-law, Carol Stratton, all of St. Louis, Missouri; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Dona Gottsch.

Cremation has taken place.  Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 3, 2018, at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 140 E. 30 ^th , Hutchinson, with Pastor Tim Carey officiating. Inurnment will take place at 2:30 p.m. February 3, 2018, at Riverview Cemetery, Kiowa.  Friends may sign the book from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday at Elliott Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church or Emanuel Lutheran Church, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS  67501.