Josephine Viola Watkins, age 87

Josephine Viola Watkins, of Willow Hill, Illinois, and a longtime resident of Yuma, Arizona, passed away at 11:20 AM – Thursday, June 14, 2018, at her home.

Funeral services celebrating Josephine's life will be held at 1:00 PM – Wednesday, June 20, 2018, at Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois, with her son David Watkins officiating.  Burial will be in the Mound Cemetery in rural Willow Hill, Illinois.  Visitation will be held 2 hours before the service.  In loving memory of Josephine, memorials may be to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital.

Jospehine was born on April 9, 1931, in Rising Sun, Maryland, the daughter of Herman Ira and Victoria (Baker) Hall.   She married Jessie James Watkins on October 15, 1949, in Elkton, Maryland and he preceded her in death on September 19, 2010.  To this union six children were born.  She was a wonderful and loving mother and a good wife.  Later in life she was blessed with having a wonderful daughter-in-law Connie and son Daniel who became her caregivers.

Josephine worked at the Yuma Hospital and did babysitting.  She was a member the Baptist Church in Foothills, Arizona near Yuma.  She was also a member of the ladies auxiliary of the Ste. Marie American Legion Post #932.

Josephine is survived by:

Children – Deborah Ferguson of Marion, Illinois; Margaret (Craig) Pritchard of Willow Hill, Illinois; David (Tammy) Watkins of Fallon, Nevada and Daniel (Connie) Watkins of Willow Hill, Illinois.

Daughter-in-law – Judy Watkins of Yuma, Arizona

13 Grandchildren and several great grandchildren

Sister – Myrtle Cox of Havre de Grace, Maryland

Josephine was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sons Stanley and Herman Watkins; great granddaughter Shelia Hemrich and son-in-law Dale Ferguson.