Bill Watkins

BELL CITY, Mo. -- Winford "Bill" Watkins Sr., 81, of Bell City passed away Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Dec. 12, 1928, at McMullen, Mo., son of Clarence and Geraldine Pratt Watkins. He and Ellen Stovall were married Sept. 26, 1947.

Bill was a self-employed farmer. He was a member of Lakeville Lodge in Bell City, and attended Bell City United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Winford "Butch" (Carolyn) Watkins of Marble Hill, Mo.; a daughter, Sandra Miller of Columbus, Ohio; five brothers, Bob (Darlene) Watkins and Gerald (Lynn) Watkins of Alabama, Lonnie (Kaye) Watkins of Essex, Mo., Ronnie (Susan) Watkins of Sikeston, Mo., Gary (Linda) Watkins; three grandchildren, Robbie (Melanie) Watkins of Cape Girardeau, Jessica (Mark) Fontana of Minneapolis, Minn., Jarrett (Heather) Miller of Virginia; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Alileen Hanes and Norma Stovall; and two brothers, Jimmy and Samuel Watkins.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance, Mo., with a Masonic service at 7.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the chapel, with the Rev. Ron Shrum officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hills Memorial Gardens at Morley, Mo.