Obituary of Dennis J. Watkins

Funeral Services for Dennis James “Shorty” Watkins of Elsberry, MO will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Rev. Laura Taylor, pastor of Elsberry United Methodist Church, will officiate with burial in the Elsberry City Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Darrell Painter, Gil Dameron, Steve Sharpe, Niles Leverington, Paul Reed, Alex Graham and Jeff Ivy; and honorary pallbearers will be Harry Ogden, Bennie Watkins and Jack Ivy. Shorty, 61, passed away early Saturday morning, January 27, 2024 at Silex Community Care in Silex, MO after a hard fought battle with Parkinson’s disease. Born February 5, 1962 in Louisiana, MO, he was the son of Royce Eugene and Ruby June Dodson Watkins, Jr. A lifelong resident of the Elsberry community, Shorty was a 1980 graduate of Elsberry High School. A second generation Union carpenter by trade, he was employed for many years in residential construction by Behlman Brothers Construction, retiring in 2018. Shorty was a member and past-president of Carpenter’s Local #1875 of Winfield for 12 years; then served as a Trustee of Carpenter’s Local #32 of Wentzville and Delegate for the St. Louis Carpenter’s District Council. In his younger years, he was a member of the Elsberry Volunteer Fire Department. Shorty was also a member of the Sons of the American Legion for over 37 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Royce and Ruby Watkins, Jr.; and one sister, Dena Watkins. Survivors include his children: Ashley Long and her husband, Brian, of Sturgeon, MO, and James Watkins and his wife, Emily, of Elsberry; and three grandchildren: Alex Graham, Greyson Long and Everett Watkins. Shorty also leaves one brother, Allen “Butch” Watkins and his wife, Virginia, of Moscow Mills, MO; one sister, Dorla Watkins of North Kansas City, MO; niece and nephew, Michelle and Chris Watkins, several other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Monday, January 29, 2024 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the Sons of the American Legion (SAL) in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343.