Shirley Jane Watkins

Shirley is survived by her devoted husband of 41 years, Bob Watkins, and her younger sister Carol (Rodgers) Hewitt. She is the beloved mother of Kelly (Ivey) Johnson and her husband Steve, Karen (Ivey) Whiting and her husband Steve, and Kurt Ivey and his wife Laura. She is the equally beloved “Grammy” to grandchildren Alex, Brooke, Jackson and his wife Nicole, Cat and her fiancé Will, Gavin, Nick, Amanda Jane, and Keith. Shirley’s family extended to include her stepsons Bobby Watkins and his wife Deana, Randy Watkins and his wife Janice, and 5 additional grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Shirley spent her childhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma with her parents Gayle and LaVon and her younger sister Carol. Growing up in Tulsa, Shirley enjoyed playing Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and organizing the 33rd Street Rock Club. She graduated from Edison High School in 1961 where she was chosen as Miss Edison, the football queen, in her senior year. The next year, she became a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority at the University of Oklahoma.

Shirley’s passion was always her family and that “family” often extended to total strangers. Her contagious warmth, generous spirit, and ability to connect on a personal level with everyone she met will be remembered by those who she pulled into her circle. Whether the friends of her children growing up, her connections at her local church, her customers at the Berry Patch, or her favorite people at Waffle House, Shirley made people feel special, seen and loved. She was often teased about how many people she referred to as her “favorite.” Her circle of love also included her multiple pets, and her most recent loves Ella and Lucy will miss her deeply as well.

Shirley loved to sew and was a gifted seamstress. In 1977, she went to work for her favorite fabric store, the Berry Patch. In 1980, she became manager of the Berry Patch location in Fort Worth, before she and her husband Bob purchased the Berry Patch in 1982. Thousands of people have been impacted by the Berry Patch community and Shirley and Bob’s special brand of personal connection and creative customer service. The Berry Patch feels like family for those who return time after time due in large part to Shirley’s legacy.

Shirley was a woman of deep faith and her generous spirit and multiple gifts were often felt in her various church communities throughout her life. In recent years, she served at Arborlawn United Methodist Church organizing bible studies, serving on committees, and even making costumes for the annual Christmas pageant. She was particularly proud of her involvement with Kids Hope program which she led for several years. Kids Hope trained and connected mentors to children at a local elementary school who could use additional loving adults in their lives. Her devotion to this program impacted the lives of hundreds of children who might otherwise have fallen through the cracks.

In the outpouring of love we’ve received at the news of Shirley’s passing, she has been called:

• everyone’s biggest cheerleader and number one fan

• selfless

• a safe space for everyone

The way she expressed her love was repeatedly described with words like unconditional, nonjudgmental and grace filled. In Shirley’s view, everyone deserved the benefit of the doubt and a second chance. Music was a special part of her life, and she also loved flowers, sunsets, shells, and trees. Some of her favorite memories were family beach trips with all her kids and grandkids. She was fascinated by people’s stories and was a curious and attentive listener, eagerly wanting to hear all the details on any topic that was important to the person in front of her. Each of her children and grandchildren are privately convinced they are her favorite because that is how she made everyone feel. Her legacy of love will live on through each of them.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Shirley’s name to one of her favorite charities, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Please join the family for a Celebration of Life August 10th, 2024 at 11:00 AM located at Arborlawn United Methodist Church, 5001 Briarhaven Road, Fort Worth, TX 76109.