Betty Jane Watkins
September 3, 1929 - December 18, 2022
Betty Jane Watkins, 93, of Dewey, was at home Sunday, December 18, 2022, when she went to her eternal rest with her Savior Jesus Christ. She loved the big family God blessed Bill and her with, and they loved her.
Betty was born the daughter of John Oliver and Daisy Myrtle (Blevins) Long Sprague on September 3, 1929, in Bartlesville. She grew up and lived in the area her whole life. Just two brothers of the original 13 siblings survived her.
It was Betty's sister who introduced her to William Lee "Bill" Watkins. They united in marriage on January 25, 1946 and raised six girls and one boy. Bill kept everyone in line just enough to keep Betty happy. The girls remember Mom wanting all of them to wear dresses and hats to church on Easter Sunday, and even Carolyn agreed a few times. Betty stayed home with the kids until baby Marie was three and then Betty pursued her passion to be a beautician. It was more than a job, Betty worked with her favorite clients well into her 80s before reluctantly retiring. Time to herself was rare but occasionally Bill loaded up the kids and headed to the races. Bill preceded her in death in 2011 after 65 years of marriage.
Betty loved the Lord and was a longtime member of the Memorial Christian Church. Everything centered around her family. She enjoyed attending their many school and sporting activities, sometimes having a grandchild on each team and rooting for the middle. This even extended to high school graduations that would take place at the same time but at different schools, so that they had to rush to see both students walk. Betty loved big family gatherings, reunions and parties. Her last and 93rd birthday was celebrated by family and friends, and she was happy to see each and every one of them. She was dearly loved.
Betty is survived by her daughters, Dr. Daisy (Augustine Jr.) Dupas, Billie Pierce, Bonnie May, Wilma Young and her life partner Fred Johnson, Carolyn Owens and Marie Miller; daughter-in-law, April Watkins; brothers, Phillip and Ted Sprague; 15 grandchildren, Tammy Webster, Chet Burrows, Angie Burrows, Rachelle Caswell, Chanda Swalley, Kim Camacho, Shane Young, Samuel Young, Andrew Young, Amos Young, Christy Green, Jana Standlea, James Owens Jr., Amanda Bearden and Bryan Miller; 40 great-grandchildren and 27 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other family and friends too numerous to count. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill; son, Jimmy; four sons-in-law, Bill May, Garland Young, David Miller and Jim Carr; three brothers; seven sisters; two grandchildren, Jeff Ellington and Jamey Watkins; a granddaughter-in-law, Crystal Young; and four great-grandchildren, Daniel Schaffer IV, Sara Marsh, Aaron Nicholas and Audrey Allford.
Betty's family will receive friends on Wednesday, from 6-8 p.m, at the Davis Family Funeral Home - Dewey Chapel, 918-534-3030, 113 S. Osage (Hwy. 75), Dewey. Visitation will also be held on Wednesday from 10-8 and Thursday 9-11.
Services will be held 2 p.m. on Thursday, at the Memorial Christian Church. Interment will follow in the Dewey Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home - Dewey Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.
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