Effie Watkins

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Effie Lee Merick Watkins was born in Sikeston, on Aug. 26, 1950, to the late Lloyd C. Merick and Helen Wilson Merick. She passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, at the age of 67.

On Dec. 23, 1970, she married Jimmy D. Watkins in Bell City, Missouri. He preceded her in death May 16, 1975.

She received a Bachelor of Science in education in 1971 and a Master of Arts in education in 1986 from Southeast Missouri State University. Effie was a member of the Missouri State Teachers Association, the Eagles Auxiliary, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.

She worked as a social studies teacher, teaching soldiers in Germany and Georgia for three years. She then taught 25 years at Bell City High School. After teaching, she was general manager of Super 8 motels in Sikeston and Cape Girardeau for five years. Her last job was admitting clerk at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston for over three years.

Effie was raised on a farm west of Tanner, Missouri, and during the rest of her life, she resided in Cape Girardeau; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Pirmasens, Germany; and Fort Gordon, Georgia. Upon her husband's death in 1975, she moved back to Sikeston for the remainder of her life.

Her religious affiliation was a private matter, but she always believed her faith in God and daily talks with Him are what got her through all the years alone without her beloved Jimmy and her parents.

Survivors include two stepsons, Jimmy D. Watkins and Jeffrey L. Watkins; four brothers-in-law, Gerald Watkins, Bob Watkins, Lonnie Watkins and Ronnie Watkins; six sisters-in-law, Beverly Merick, Ellen Watkins, Darlene Watkins, Katie Watkins, Linda Watkins and Susan Watkins; a nephew, Michael L. Merick; three nieces, Janet Hardin, Crystal Crossley and Leann Williams; 10 great-nieces and great-nephews; three great-great-nieces and -nephews; two special friends, Stanley Shanks and Alyssa Klos; and many other special friends from the Sikeston and Bell City area.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Lori Rachelle Watkins; a brother, Lloyd C. Merick Jr.; her mother-in-law, Geraldine "Gert" Watkins; four brothers-in-law, Bill Watkins, Raymond Stovall, Ernie Haynes and Gary Watkins; and five sisters-in-law, Norma Stovall, Ailene Haynes, Lynn Watkins, Ruby Gooch and Lillian Merick.

Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. today until the time of the funeral service at noon at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston, with Brother Jeff Polk officiating.

Interment will follow at Garden of Memories cemetery in Sikeston.