WATKINS, Jimmy Harold

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 09/22/2006 Jimmy Harold Watkins, 70, of Saratoga, Wyo. died Sept. 17, 2006 in Casper, Wyo. Jim was born July 29, 1936, the second of six sons born to Elvis "Tex" and Frances Watkins, in Bernallio, N.M. His parents led a vagabond life when Jim was younger. They lived in Texas, California, Oregon, New Mexico and Arizona before finally settling in Alpine where Tex owned and operated a sawmill. Jim learned the sawmill trade and spent most of his life working as a mill-wright and saw filer. He married Georgia Madrid when still a very young man. From that union were born nine children. Jim and Georgia separated and divorced and Jim moved to Coosbay, Ore. where he continued to ply his trade as mill-wright and saw filer. He met and married Denise Price Bateham while in Oregon. Jim took a job in Saratoga, Wyo. and resided there 20 years until his death. Jim was a talker and would talk for hours on the phone or to anyone who would listen. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved horses and dreamed of one day having a horse ranch. He liked working with wood. He was confined to the house and unable to hunt for the past few years, but he still liked driving around the countryside, looking for and at wildlife. Jim's survivors are wife, Denise Watkins, Saratoga, Wyo.; sons, Lynn Watkins, Phoenix; Richard Scott (Patricia) Watkins, Eagar; Michael Watkins, Eagar; and Jamie "Jim" Watkins, Roseberg, Ore.; daughters, Carol (Kevin) Thomas, Snowflake; Donna Watkins, Mesa; Kitty Bellior, Owensville, Mo.; and Debbie (Buck) Williams, Roseberg, Ore.; stepdaughters, Julia Ferris, Missoula, Mont.; and Heidi Jenne, Casper Wyo.; and stepson, Jeff Bateham, Rigby, Idaho; 27 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren and his children's mother, Georgia Madrid Moore; brothers, Walter Watkins, Eagar; Thomas (Mary Ann) Watkins, Springerville; Archie (Eulene) Watkins, Eagar and Bill (Jo)Watkins, Tampa, Fla. Preceding him in death was his son, Harold Watkins; parents, Tex and Frances Watkins, brother, Harvey Watkins and son-in-law Dennis Bellior. A memorial service will be held in Casper, Wyo. Saturday, Sept 23, 2006 at the Bustard Funeral Home. Jim loved the woods and the mountains. His ashes will be scattered over the Grand Teton Mountains in Wyoming. Bustard Funeral Home, Casper, Wyo. was in charge of the arrangements.