WATKINS, Elizabeth L. - b. December 14, 1913 - d. December 8, 2010

[patyrn]

Elizabeth L. Watkins, age 96, died Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at the Twilight Manor Nursing Home in Howard, Kansas.  Elizabeth was born in Lucas, Kansas on December 14, 1913, the daughter of Wenclo and Elizabeth (Pristeria) Libal.

On November 25, 1939, Elizabeth married Ralph Watkins in Wichita, Kansas.  They moved to Gary, Indiana for a brief time; then moved to Arkansas where they bought two farms which they operated for several years.  In 1943, Ralph went into the military, and they moved back to Independence, Missouri where Elizabeth worked at the Lake City Ordinance Plant.  In 1950, Elizabeth and Ralph moved near Atlanta, Kansas where they started a dairy farm, and Ralph continued to work as an electrician.  Elizabeth and Ralph were married for 52 years until his death in 1992.

Elizabeth loved the outdoors, flowers, and gardening.  She was known as a wonderful cook.  She raised numerous animals of which she named every one of them.  Elizabeth was a member of the Atlanta, Kansas Garden Club, the Homemakers Unit, Senior Citizen Group, and a member of the Lutheran Church near Lucas, Kansas.

Survivors include several nieces and nephews; two brothers-in-law, Bill and Floyd Watkins, both of Independence, Missouri; and her lifetime friend, Helen Sprague of Grenola, Kansas.  Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ralph; her sister, Josephine Lamb; and her niece, Roselea Skolaut.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, December 11, 2010 at the Atlanta Cemetery in Atlanta, Kansas at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Larry Womack officiating.  There will be no visitation.  Memorials have been suggested to the Fire District #2 of Atlanta, Kansas, and may be sent to the funeral home.  Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com.  Services have been entrusted to Countryside-Zimmerman Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, P.O. Box 1233, Howard, Kansas 67349.

(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)