Mary Louise Watkins

Mary L. Watkins, 83, of Columbia passed away peacefully on January 23, 2024 at the Bluffs Nursing Home. Visitation will be from 4:30 - 6:30 pm, Wednesday, January 31st at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W in Columbia. Services will be held at 10 am Thursday, February 1 at Community United Methodist Church, 3301 W Broadway, Columbia, with private burial to follow.

Mary Louise was born near Springville, Iowa on August 21, 1940 to parents, Cecil & Doris (Clark) Lewis. She was their third daughter joining older sisters Dorothy and Bessie. Four years later sister Ruth completed the Lewis family. Mary and her sisters were proud and often bragged of being “direct descendants” of Lewis and Clark. When Mary was ready to start school, Country School only offered grades 1-8, thus allowing Mary to begin school in First grade instead of Kindergarten. While in High School, Mary played basketball and was a member of the marching band playing French Horn. The Alburnett High School band was invited to march in the 80th birthday parade for former President Herbert Hoover on August 10, 1954, in West Branch, Iowa in which Mary was proud to be part of that special celebration. Mary graduated from Alburnett High School in 1957 at the age of 16.

She met Leonard (Barton) Watkins who worked as a farmhand for Cecil. They fell in love and married on March 29, 1958, in Prescott, MN. Mary was only 17 and not of legal age in Iowa to be married so they eloped to Minnesota. Mary and Barton were afraid to tell Cecil and Doris that they had wed, so they lived separately for the first 6 weeks of married life before telling their parents! They spent their first 9 years together in various towns in Iowa, before making Columbia, MO their home in 1967. Their family was complete with 3 daughters - Karen, Kathy & Lenora.

Mary worked most of her professional career as a secretary, obtaining her CPS (Certified Professional Secretary) designation in 1980. She retired from Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in 1997. Mary was a member of Community United Methodist Church since 1967, where she would become the first church secretary for CUMC and also played the organ for several years, as well as teaching Sunday School. Mary also was an active member of American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) for many years, as well as a service sorority & her bridge club.

Mary’s talents were widespread. She had a special gift of music and enjoyed playing the piano and singing. She was the only daughter of Cecil & Doris that kept up with their piano lessons! Her proudest years were when she was a member of the choir of the VA Medical Musical Group and performed in the Veteran’s Day program for many years, held in various cities including Washington, DC, Orlando, Florida & New York City. She enjoyed sewing and making hand-crafted items and was proficient at counted cross stitch. There was hardly a game or an activity that Mary didn’t enjoy – card games, bingo, board games – you name it – she was ready! Mary also followed Mizzou football and women’s and men’s basketball games. She also supported her family in all of their endeavors, proudly cheering and clapping for her loved one.

Mary had a kind and gentle heart and a continuous smile that lit up a room. She enjoyed any kind of a gathering, especially when it involved family. Even after she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1990, she persevered and was determined to not let this limit her. She was up for any challenge; whether it be a hot air balloon ride, a plane trip to Houston or a car trip to Colorado, Iowa or Wisconsin or a specialty bike ride on the MKT trail. She welcomed being surrounded by family and friends. She adored all her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and recently joined the great-great grandmother’s club.

She is survived by her three daughters, Karen Watkins-Jackson, Kathy (Richard) Farmer & Lenora Watkins all of Columbia, MO; four granddaughters: Amy Watkins (Gabe Pettit), Centralia, MO, Jessica Lozano (Roberto), Columbia, MO, Ashley Thomas (Troy), Sturgeon, MO, and Kaitlyn Farmer (fiancé Courtney Beeston), Jackson, Michigan; great-grandchildren: Andrew Watkins (Destiney Kelly), Jackson Garfias, Dominic Garfias, Angela Watkins, Avin Pettit, Eddison Espinosa, Pressley Espinosa, Elizabeth (Liz) Thomas and Ryan Watkins; great-great granddaughter Quinnlee Watkins; sister Dorothy Johnston, Baytown, Texas and brothers-in-law John Lundgren, Castle Rock, CO and Ivan Graesser, Marion, IA; aunt Mary Earlene Lewis, Marion, IA, as well as many nieces and nephews and two first cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leonard, and sisters Bessie Graesser and Ruth Lundgren.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Community United Methodist Church or Parkinson’s Foundation.