John Edward Watkins, 73, of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2024, after battling ALS. He was the loving husband of Lesli for 55 years, a proud dad to Sheri and Steven (Kim), and known as “W” to his cherished grandkids Megan, Justine, Ryan, and Ella.
John is also survived by his cousins Margaret and Robert; his in-laws John and Barbara; his sisters-in-law Lynn (Rogers) and Donna; his niece Mira; and his nephew Tyler. A founding member of the LBKDNC alongside Rick and Ray, John’s larger-than-life personality touched everyone he met. He was always eager to share his business experiences and wisdom and ready to help those in need.
An avid animal lover, John adored his pets Gretchen, Trapper, and Holly, as well as all of the birds who visited his feeders. If he could share one more phrase with those he loved, it would simply be, “If you don’t like something, do something about it. Be the change.”
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ALS Association.
