Published: October 21, 2006 03:28 pm      

Raymond Watkins

Raymond Earl Watkins, 73, of Krebs, died Friday, Oct. 20, 2006, at his home in Krebs.

Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home Chapel with Kevin Kasparek and Steve Weeks officiating. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery under the direction of Brumley-Mills Funeral Home of McAlester.

Because of Mr. Watkins strong sense of patriotism the family would like to honor all Korean War veterans by naming them as honorary pallbearers.

Born on Oct. 7, 1933, in Lone Dove, to Barney and Jessie (Brooks) Watkins, he graduated from Spiro High School in 1951, enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1953 and served his country during the Korean War. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah where he earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry with minors in math and education in 1960. His career as a teacher spanned more than 30 years. He taught and coached at Haileyville High School for several years and taught at McAlester High School from 1966 until his retirement in 1987.

He married Janice Russell on Aug. 3, 1979. He was a family man who enjoyed hunting, trail riding, four-wheeling and camping. He began traveling at an early age, visiting historical sites, and continued traveling with his wife, children and grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Janice Watkins, of the home; one daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Gary Gunselman and their children, Jessica and Kally Ritchey, all of Fort Smith, Ark.; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Christopher Watkins and his son, Cody Watkins, of Krebs, Aaron and Brandy Watkins and their sons, Garyn, Gaige and Garrison, of McAlester; two sisters-in-law, Ilene Watkins, of Castlerock, Colo., Shirley Watkins, of Farmington, Mo.; mother-in-law, Irene Russell, of Krebs, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Fred Watkins, Eddie Watkins, George Watkins and John Watkins, and two sisters, Mary Reid and Pearl Wright.