Kenneth Earl Watkins

Mr. Kenny Watkins, age 68, of Hickory Valley, departed this life Sunday, January 5, 2014 at Bolivar General Hospital.

The husband of Debbie Powell Watkins, who survives, he formerly worked as a hammerman with Deitz Forge Company in Memphis for 22 years. Before he passed, he was a sitter for Matthew Trey. He was born December 10, 1945 in Toone, son of the late Barney Wilford Watkins and Nicie Maude Shearon Watkins and lived in Memphis from 1965-1995 when he moved to Hickory Valley. He married Debbie Powell on March 7, 1969 and was a US Army veteran, having served in the Vietnam conflict from 1965-1968. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and watching sports, especially football and basketball, and dearly loved his grandchildren. He was a Baptist in belief, attending Middleburg Baptist and Trinity Baptist Churches.

In addition to his wife, survivors include a son and his wife, Ken Watkins Jr and Glenda Davis Watkins of Hickory Valley; two brothers, Glen Watkins of Saulsbury and Johnny Watkins of Memphis; a grandchild, Matthew Trey Watkins; two stepgrandchildren, Samantha Pierce (Jason Proctor) and Timothy Lambert, Jr.; and a step great grandson, Jason Alex Proctor. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Audrey Griffith, Barbara Hill and Thelma Watkins and five brothers, Jack, Malcolm, Barney, Wesley and Dennis Watkins.

The family requests memorials be directed to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org/donate).