Edith Mays "Peachy" Ochs, 66, died at Samaritan Albany General Hospital Monday after a long heroic (and stubborn) battle with hepatitis C.

Born and raised in the Seattle area, she enjoyed athletics, journalism and photography. She moved to Maui in the 1970s where she pursued a career in print journalism specializing in sports photography for the Maui News, notably covering and producing local martial arts and motorcycle racing events. She had started studying martial arts under Bruce Lee in Seattle and continued learning Siu Lum Pai Hung Gar Kung Fu, under Buck Sam Kong in Maui, Hawaii. She relocated with her husband in 1977 to southern Nevada where she served as sports editor for the Boulder City (Nevada) News. In 1983, she relocated with her family again to Albany where she worked for the Lebanon Express as a sports writer.

She loved history and genealogy from childhood. She focused her love of history on research and writing for her book: "The Amherst Papers, 1756-1763" which was published in 1999. She spent decades volunteering and sharing her knowledge of history and genealogy as a researcher at the LDS Family History Center in Corvallis.

Although she was an accomplished writer, photographer, researcher and genealogist, her proudest legacy was the legion of solid citizens she mentored over the years. Some were her children by birth, but all were her children by choice.

She is survived by her husband, Tom Ochs; sister Barbara Shepard; daughters Andrea Walters and Marybeth O. Green; almost-daughter Helen Naegle; grandchildren Kyra and Bryce Walters, and Savina and Parker Green; six nieces and nephews including Zach (who was there during the vigil); and her beloved rescued-dogs, Aka and Lucky.

AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handing arrangements ( www.aasum-dufour.com ).