Clara Elizabeth Watkins, 83, of Haines, died Dec. 16, 2001, at Serenity Farm Adult Foster Home.
Her funeral will be at 3 p.m. Friday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Tony Brandon of the Seventh-day Adventist Church will officiate. Visitations will be Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mrs. Watkins was born on Feb. 19, 1918, at Plaza, N.D. She was a daughter of Ben and Isabal Hutchinson Henry. She was raised and received her schooling at Plaza. During the summer, she went to work on various farms to help pay for her school clothes and books.
After graduating from high school, she moved to be with her sister at Long Beach, Calif. She attended secretarial college in California. Upon graduating, she went to work for various companies doing their books and office work.
On a visit with her cousin in Seattle, Wash., she met Robert Watkins. They were married on Aug. 26, 1940, at Seattle, Wash.
He was stationed at Bellflower, Calif., and after they started their family, they made their home at Long Beach. After their retirement, they moved to Junction City where they remained until 1996. That year they moved to be with their daughter, Linda Cowan, at Haines. Mr. Watkins died on Jan. 2, 2000.
Mrs. Watkins loved to garden and canned all of the produce that she raised. She also loved to travel, which she did extensively with friends. The Holy Land, Alaska, China, Japan, and Hawaii were just some of the places that she had traveled to. She loved to visit her children and always lent a helping hand in whatever they were doing. She was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Survivors include her children, Robert and Lucena Watkins of Huntington Beach, Calif., Beverly Jean Kiser of Eugene, Barbara Joan and Hal Connor of Cottage Grove, Linda and Mickey Cowan of Haines and Jim Watkins of Junction City; 13 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and a cousin, Adele Burgstrom.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert; and a son, Allen Watkins.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Coles Funeral Home to help families who are in need of funds. This may be done through the funeral home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: The Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, December 21, 2001
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
