Dr. Bill J. Watkins
Dr. Bill J. Watkins, age 84 of Breckenridge, passed away Friday, March 2, 2018. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, March 8, at Morehart Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Dean Duerkson and Rev. Charles West officiating. Interment will follow in the Breckenridge Cemetery under the direction of Morehart Mortuary. Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 7, at Morehart Mortuary.
Billy Joe Watkins was born on February 18, 1934, to parents, Lloyd Edgar Watkins and Dorothy Lee Shriner Watkins in Hobart, Oklahoma. After graduating high school, he spent one year in college in Oklahoma before entering the Coast Guard. He was stationed in Cape May, New Jersey and New Smyrna Beach, Florida. After his discharge from the Coast Guard he attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth and Baylor University School of Dentistry in Dallas, which is now Texas A&M University College of Dentistry. After graduation from dental school, he settled in Breckenridge, where he practiced for over 40 years. He became heavily involved in the community. Bill even went on mission trips to Mexico as a dentist with a fellow classmate. He was a lifetime member of the Texas Dental Association and regional president of the Abilene District. On June 8, 1973, Dr. Watkins married Jody Hutchin Vaughn in Altus, Oklahoma. In his free time, he enjoyed riding motorcycles throughout the country and Mexico, flying airplanes, traveling, experiencing new electronic equipment, ham radios, computers, remote-control planes and drones. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Dorothy Watkins; and one step-daughter, Nikki Vaughn Wells.
Dr. Watkins is survived by his wife, Jody Watkins of Breckenridge; two children, Phillip Watkins and wife Barbara of Amarillo, Beverly Carr and husband Glenn of Tye; three step-children Keith Vaughn and wife Leslie of South Berry, Connecticut, Jeff Vaughn of Whitewright, Chuck Vaughn and wife Kim of Granbury; one brother, Jim Watkins and wife Louann of Keller; 20 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels and may be left at Morehart Mortuary. Condolences may be made online at www.morehartmortuary.net.
