Holly passed peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of September 28, 2026, after a long journey with Alzheimer’s.

Holly was born November 20, 1935, in South Sioux City, Nebraska and raised in the mid-west by her parents, George and Lenore Burt. After college, she came to Texas and in 1961 married King Koch. They moved to Muenster TX in 1974, where they finished raising their family.

When computers were first mainstreamed into businesses, Holly returned to school, learned computer programming and computerized King’s businesses. She was an officer in local, regional, and church organizations, Texas Garden Clubs, Ft. Worth Diocese of the Catholic Church and was a Student Council sponsor for 10 years. Teaching, training and volunteering were her love.

She was a convert to Catholicism and very strong in her faith. She was nominated by Bishop Joseph P. Delaney, and elected into membership in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre in 1992. Holly’s adopted home in the Caribbean was the island of Nevis, where she worked with King in the restoration and development of Croney’s Old Manor Estate. She maintained her friendships on the island for more than 50 years and visited up until she was no longer able to travel.

Survivors include their children, Karen Koch, Kathryn Hicks, Barbara Hesse, Judy Tice and one brother, Jerry Hood, of Spokane, WA. She was preceded in death by her husband, King Koch and daughter, Patti Bayer.

Service arrangements are pending and interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials considered may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (Alzheimer's Association | Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Help) or the Sacred Heart Teacher’s Sustentation Fund in Muenster, TX (Give – SH Muenster).