Obituary of Ruby June Watkins

Funeral Services for Ruby June Watkins of Elsberry, MO will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 5, 2017 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry.  Rev. Paul Garven, pastor of the Elsberry United Methodist Church, will officiate with burial in the Elsberry City Cemetery.  Serving as pallbearers will be James Watkins, Chris Watkins, Brian Long, Brent Teasley and Joseph Ince.  Honorary Pallbearers are Frank Teasley and Wayne Tillitson.

Mrs. Watkins, 82 , passed away Friday evening, June 2, 2017 at the Elsberry Health Care Center near Elsberry.  Born August 9, 1934 in the New Hope Community near Elsberry, she was the daughter of Wallace and Nellie Teasley Dodson.  Ruby was united in marriage on August 31, 1957 in Louisiana, MO to Royce Eugene Watkins, Jr.  This union was blessed with four children: Allen Eugene, Dennis James, Dorla Dean and Dena Diane.  Ruby had a love for sewing, crocheting and quilting.  She ran the New Hope Store for a number of years where she pumped gas and fixed sandwiches for the farmers.  Ruby also worked  as a Seamstress for the Wells-Lamont Glove Factory in Elsberry.  Later in life, Ruby was devoted to raising her grandchildren.

Ruby was preceded in death by her parents, Wallace and Nellie Dodson; one daughter, Dena Watkins in 1969; one brother-in-law, Bob Ince; and her beloved husband of 34 years, Royce Watkins, Jr., who died April 10, 1992.

Survivors include two sons: Allen Watkins and his wife, Virginia, of Moscow Mills, MO and Dennis Watkins of Elsberry; one daughter, Dorla Watkins of Kansas City, MO; four grandchildren: Ashley Ann Long, James Rodney Watkins, Christopher Watkins and Michelle Broyles; and five great-grandchildren.  Ruby also leaves one sister, Linda Ince of Happy Valley, OR; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sunday, June 4, 2017 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry.  Memorials may be made to the Elsberry UMC in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343.