Wilma Jewell. Watkins, 85, was born Oct. 23, 1923, in Washita County, Oklahoma, to Willie (Haley) McClure and Charlie McClure. She passed away Tuesday, June 30, 2009, in Altus.

 Wilma attended Rainey School and graduated from Lake Valley High School north of Gotebo in 1942. She married Chap Watkins in Mountain View on March 26, 1944, and she and her husband lived a short time in Walla Walla, Wash. After World War II ended, they returned to Gotebo and farmed south of town for many years while Wilma was a homemaker for her family and worked at Leota’s Café and the Gotebo schools. She moved to Altus in 1996.

Wilma became a Christian in her teens and was very active in  the Church of Christ for over 70 years. She enjoyed camping, going places, gardening and cooking. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her nieces and nephews.   

Preceding her  in death were her parents; her husband in 1991; a son, Jack Watkins in 1989; two brothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law.

Survivors include her daughter,  Marilyn Sullivan and husband Al of Blair; a brother and his wife,  Billy and Irene McClure of Cordell; a sister and brother-in-law,  Shirley and Marland Mason of Altus; two sisters-in-law,  Mildred Watkins of Hobart, and Nadine Watkins of Madill; a special friend,  Bill Tipton of Altus; her grandchildren,  Delona Bryce of Blair, John Bryce and wife Dawn of Flemming Island, Fla., Terri Fernandez and husband Carlos of Abilene, Texas, Lori Linstead and husband Craig of Moore, Shawn Watkins and wife Toby of Maryland; her great-grandchildren,  Zeth Pankhurst, Wesley Miller, Haley Bryce, Wallker DeRoon,  Justin Bryce, Jason Bryce, Jessie Bryce, Lexie Fernandez, Keagan Fernandez,  Dalyn Fernandez, Rayden Fernandez, Lance Linstead, Grant Linstead,  and Zach Watkins. Additional survivors include two step grandchildren,  Anita Gossett and husband Steve of Virginia,  and Greg Scarbrough of Altus; a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.

 Services will be held Monday at 2 p.m. at the Elm and Hudson Church of Christ in Altus  officiated by Marland Mason and Bill David Walker. Burial and committal services will be held at the Gotebo Cemetery at 4 p.m. the same day under the direction of People's Co-operative Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Quartz Mountain Christian Camp, Lone Wolf, OK; the Tipton Children’s Home, Tipton, OK; or the American Cancer Society.