Judy Watkins

Amid many flowers, including a bouquet of wild flowers picked and arranged by her granddaughters, Judith Claire Watkins passed from this life to the next July 14, 2007. She went peacefully and with anticipation, surrounded by her family. She was born on the fourth of August, 1938 in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Judge Phil and Mrs. Phyllis Cook. Her childhood was spent in Lexington, Missouri. After high school, she attended the University of Kansas and was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. After her marriage in August, 1958, she resided with her husband in Laon, France for four years, and one year in Waco, Texas before moving to Pauls Valley in the fall of 1963. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Paul Watkins; her eldest son, Steven Watkins and his wife Tonya of Houston, Texas; her daughter, Susan and her husband Douglas, of Fullerton, California; and her youngest son, Scott, of Pauls Valley. She had four grandchildren; two grandsons: Carrigan McKenzie, U.S.M.C., Stuart Watkins of Houston, Texas and two granddaughters: Grace Norton and Sarah Norton of Fullerton, California. She had one brother, David Cook and his wife Debbie of Lincoln, Missouri. Judy loved her family, her Methodist Church, her pastor, her “crusaders” Sunday school class, and her community. She loved to travel and entertain. She progressed from not knowing how to boil water to becoming a true gourmet cook. Collecting and sharing recipes was a passion. Judy reveled in European travel with the Netherlands being her favorite destination. She took each of her children separately on a self conducted European tour upon his or her college graduation as a right of passage and adulthood. Her favorite pastime was playing bridge. She was a member of the “American Contract Bridge League” and attained the prestigious rank of “Life Master” for her tournament play. She was a member of several bridge clubs in Pauls Valley and in Oklahoma City. As a bridge instructor, she taught many students in the Pauls Valley area. Judy was most admired for her fierce tenacity to live life to its fullest, even in the face of her grave illness. She will be greatly missed by her myriad of friends, and her loving family…but most of all by Paul. He and the family wish to thank everyone for their gifts of flowers and food, visits and concerns; literally hundreds of offers of assistance, and most of all for the many, many prayers offered up in her behalf. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at the First United Methodist Church of Pauls Valley with the pastor, Dr. Robert Kanary officiating. Interment to follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Pauls Valley under the direction of Wooster Funeral Home. You may send a condolence to the family at www.woosterfuneralhomes.com.

Judy Watkins

August 4, 1938 - July 14, 2007