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Margie Lee Watkins, daughter of John W Kelley and Kanzada "Sadie" (Richards) Kelley, was born May 18, 1929 in the Wauhillau Community of Stilwell, Oklahoma. She departed this life to enter her eternal home June 2, 2021 at her residence in Stilwell at the age of 92 years and 15 days.
Margie was one of six children. Her siblings were: Loretta "Rita"; James; Melvin; Sue and Joe Carl. Of her childhood years she would say, "She was her dad's boy. She was to help her dad cut wood, feed animals and plant crops while Sue was her mother's helper doing household chores and learning to cook." But that surely did not hinder Margie from becoming a wonderful cook and immaculate housekeeper.
Margie was raised in the Wauhillau community and graduated from Stilwell High School. She married Dallas Watkins May 8, 1946, at the age of 17. Together they began an adventurous life. Dallas was called to serve in the United States Air Force and was stationed in Fair Banks, Alaska. Margie stayed behind in Stilwell until his discharge in April 1947. They traveled to North Dakota and began to sharecrop for a Swedish gentleman whom Dallas had become acquainted. They worked the land and grew wheat and flax. In 1952, they returned to Stilwell and bought a farm and raised cattle and in two years had gone broke. Upon a family visit to California, Dallas obtained a job with General Motors. They then moved to California and started over. Margie was hired at Montgomery Wards and worked her way up to a Supervisory position. In 1983, Dallas and Margie retired and once again came home to Stilwell. In retirement, Margie canned or preserved everything Dallas grew in his meticulous garden. They made many trips across the country in their RV and were able to visit every state in the US with the exception of Florida and Hawaii. Margie enjoyed hosting family get-togethers and card and domino nights with several of their friends. She always hosted Thanksgiving and Christmas every year with the Waco Watkins family and made each holiday special for everyone. Margie loved children and many times could be found in the floor playing cars or games with the children. She loved joy, laughter, people and life and never missed an opportunity to say, "I love you".
Margie was a member of the First Baptist Church in Stilwell. She was always ready to help serve the church in any way possible, be it cooking for church dinners or helping with the meals during the Baptist Conference each summer. Margie was a member of the "Young at Heart" class and enjoyed many trips sight-seeing or eating out. She loved reading her Bible and studying the word. She prayed over her decisions in life, small or large, and relied on God for direction. Margie attended church regularly while her health allowed.
Margie was preceded in death by her husband Dallas Watkins; parents, John and Sadie (Richards) Kelley; sister and brother-in-law Loretta Maxine "Rita" (Kelley) and Sanford Jenkins; infant brother Melvin C Kelley; sister and brother-in-law Nancy Sue (Kelley) and Homer Scott; and brother, Joe Carl Kelley.
She is survived by brother and sister-in-law James and Shirley Kelley of Derby, Kansas; sister-in law Mertie Day of Lakeport, California; nephew and wife Jim and Karen Kelley of Derby, Kansas; special nieces and husbands Rhonda and Mike Brown and Mary Ann and Randy Duncan all of Stilwell, Oklahoma; niece and husband Rita and David King of Strang, Oklahoma; and Danny Ketcher, who she cared for like a son. Many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many, many friends also survive her.
“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 1 Thessalonians 3:12''
The Lord blessed Margie with an abundance of love and it did overflow to every person she met. She greeted each person with her beautiful smile and quickly made them feel as they were her immediate friend. Margie loved meeting people and was interested in learning more about them. She had a host of friends and loved each one deeply. She loved her family and she was in constant communication with each niece, nephew, cousin or distant cousin until her health withdrew her ability. We were blessed as family and friends to be the recipient of her overflowing love, May we learn from her example and share our love with others.
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