Obituary for Wanda Lou Watkins
Wanda Lou Watkins was born January 16th, 1931, in Burkburnett, Texas to mother Vigie Meek and father Vernon R. "Red" Reeves. Wanda was raised by her maternal grandparents Alfred and Rilla Meek; she called them Mama and Papa. Wanda was later officially adopted by Vigie and Chester Cochran in 1975, where Wanda welcomed two brothers Albert and Hubert, and two sisters Ann and Ruth.
Wanda lived in Burkburnett, Texas, Ranelet, Hailegvilla, Hartshorn, Cambria Oklahoma, but she always called Wilburton, Oklahoma her home. Wanda was living in Hartshorn when she met and married Otis Watkins. Otis was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company when they moved to Oklahoma City to make their home and start a family. Otis and Wanda had three children: Gary Bull, Linda, and Robin, all born in Oklahoma City. Later in 1955, they moved to Altus, Oklahoma for Otis's job, where Wanda lived for the remainder of her life. Wanda was a hard worker and worked hard providing the best home she could for her family.
Family was always very important to her, often times giving up something for herself in order to give to her children and husband. Wanda's faith in God was always important to her, the First Baptist Church of Altus was her go-to peaceful place.
In Wanda's box of mementos was an article about her character spotlight in her Sunday School days, stating that Wanda always had a smile on her face, talked about her grandchildren often and how she loved to watch them grow, and made sure to encourage them when she could. Wanda also was known to have a welcoming heart to all and collected many new loved ones she would call her own. She was faithful in her attendance to Sunday school and Church; she said it kept her grounded. She worked and helped with attendance reports, kitchen work, and gave an hour a week to pray for the sick and weary in the prayer room. Wanda was always someone you could depend on. She continued watching on television faithfully, after she could no longer attend.
Wanda also loved volunteering at school for all three of her children. The teachers quickly learned that if they needed something to give her a call. The class parties were her favorite, bringing baked goods for all of her children's classes. Wanda worked on costumes for school plays, even helping out with other parents on their child's Halloween costumes. Being a classroom mother was important to her, she helped with whatever needed to be done. She and Otis were voted class parents every year the three children were in school.
When Wanda worked at home, she tended to all of the animals, most were animals Otis would bring home, she helped with mama cows' delivery, to chasing horses that got out of the pasture, to gathering eggs; Wanda did it all. Wanda was proud of the fact that she saved a calf during delivery by tying her headscarf around the legs and pulling it out herself. She always wore a headscarf while working, often making Otis buy her a new one when she would ruin hers during work. One thing that stuck out to everyone was her ability to always catch one horse that gave everyone else trouble. Wanda would walk right up to ole Joe, and lead him back, saying "Maybe it's the apples I feed him every time I go to the barn."
She did all this and still managed to have hot meals on the table, clean clothes, clean house, and her garden kept. Wanda welcomed everyone into her home, she knew the best way to make anyone feel welcomed and loved was by cooking. Wanda was an excellent cook and loved to cook. Holidays were always at her house, her table was loaded up, ready for a big crowd. No one could make macaroni and cheese like Mama. Years later, she finally revealed her secret: real butter, lots of it, and real cream.
When her three children were in high school, Wanda went to work at KellWood in Altus. She worked there long after her children were grown and left home. She said it was one of the most rewarding jobs she had: to create something for others to wear made her feel good. She also worked at United Supermarket in the meat department. She had a friendly and talkative manner that made her a special employee that customers loved.
Family meant everything to Wanda, she loved being called Mama until she was promoted to Mema. Her second grandchild Shelley nailed the name choice and it stuck ever since.
Receiving Wanda at the gates of heaven are her mother, Vigie Meek Cochran; father, Vernon R. "Red" Reeves; adoptive parent, Chester Cochran; grandparents, Alfred and Rilla Meek; daughter, Robin Watkins; granddaughter, Christa Dawn Watkins; husband, Otis Watkins; siblings, Albert Cochran, Hubert Cochran; brother n laws, Melvin Lee, Don Johnston and Vern Willits; nephew, David Lee and many other sweet friends and family members..
Wanda is survived by two children, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. The children are Bull and wife Jude Watkins, Linda and husband Rex Cole; The grandchildren are Shelley Jo Renfro Federico, Tiffany and husband Ashley Clark, Koby Cole, Jay Watkins, and Kendra Cole. Great-grandchildren include Asher, Gracie, and Axton Clark, Waylon, Jax, and Kota Watkins, Rowdy Cole and Florida, and Linkin Cole Baker. Wanda is also survived by two sisters Ann Willits and Ruth Lee, and two sister-in-laws Nell Ballard Cochran and Lois Cochran Hill and many nieces and nephews.
Wanda said she had more than three children, she counted all those kids who would come to her home. Each stayed for different amounts of time, but there was always room for them in Wanda's home. Wanda was a friend to everyone. "Luke 12:31" and "Philippians 4:4" were two of Wanda's favorite Bible verses. Wanda had a saying that she used when a difficulty or death came into a person's life: "This too, shall pass" Yes, Wanda, "This too shall pass." for those of us left behind, as we lay you to rest and as you have gone to be with the Lord, we say, "see you soon".
The Watkins family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Monday, April 1, 2024, at Lowell - Tims Funeral Home, Altus, Oklahoma.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Lowell-Tims Funeral Home Chapel, Altus, Oklahoma with Doug Altom officiating, interment will follow at Altus City Cemetery, Altus, Oklahoma.
To leave a story about Wanda or a kind word to the family please visit Lowell-Tims.com
Services have been entrusted to Lowell - Tims Funeral Home and Crematory, Altus, Oklahoma.
The Watkins family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Monday April 1, 2024 at Lowell - Tims Funeral Home, Altus, Oklahoma.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at Lowell - Tims Funeral Home Chapel, Altus, Oklahoma with Doug Altom officiating, interment will follow at Altus City Cemetery, Altus, Oklahoma.
Services have been entrusted to Lowell - Tims Funeral Home and Crematory, Altus, Oklahoma.
Read More
Wanda lived in Burkburnett, Texas, Ranelet, Hailegvilla, Hartshorn, Cambria Oklahoma, but she always called Wilburton, Oklahoma her home. Wanda was living in Hartshorn when she met and married Otis Watkins. Otis was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company when they moved to Oklahoma City to make their home and start a family. Otis and Wanda had three children: Gary Bull, Linda, and Robin, all born in Oklahoma City. Later in 1955, they moved to Altus, Oklahoma for Otis's job, where Wanda lived for the remainder of her life. Wanda was a hard worker and worked hard providing the best home she could for her family.
Family was always very important to her, often times giving up something for herself in order to give to her children and husband. Wanda's faith in God was always important to her, the First Baptist Church of Altus was her go-to peaceful place.
In Wanda's box of mementos was an article about her character spotlight in her Sunday School days, stating that Wanda always had a smile on her face, talked about her grandchildren often and how she loved to watch them grow, and made sure to encourage them when she could. Wanda also was known to have a welcoming heart to all and collected many new loved ones she would call her own. She was faithful in her attendance to Sunday school and Church; she said it kept her grounded. She worked and helped with attendance reports, kitchen work, and gave an hour a week to pray for the sick and weary in the prayer room. Wanda was always someone you could depend on. She continued watching on television faithfully, after she could no longer attend.
Wanda also loved volunteering at school for all three of her children. The teachers quickly learned that if they needed something to give her a call. The class parties were her favorite, bringing baked goods for all of her children's classes. Wanda worked on costumes for school plays, even helping out with other parents on their child's Halloween costumes. Being a classroom mother was important to her, she helped with whatever needed to be done. She and Otis were voted class parents every year the three children were in school.
When Wanda worked at home, she tended to all of the animals, most were animals Otis would bring home, she helped with mama cows' delivery, to chasing horses that got out of the pasture, to gathering eggs; Wanda did it all. Wanda was proud of the fact that she saved a calf during delivery by tying her headscarf around the legs and pulling it out herself. She always wore a headscarf while working, often making Otis buy her a new one when she would ruin hers during work. One thing that stuck out to everyone was her ability to always catch one horse that gave everyone else trouble. Wanda would walk right up to ole Joe, and lead him back, saying "Maybe it's the apples I feed him every time I go to the barn."
She did all this and still managed to have hot meals on the table, clean clothes, clean house, and her garden kept. Wanda welcomed everyone into her home, she knew the best way to make anyone feel welcomed and loved was by cooking. Wanda was an excellent cook and loved to cook. Holidays were always at her house, her table was loaded up, ready for a big crowd. No one could make macaroni and cheese like Mama. Years later, she finally revealed her secret: real butter, lots of it, and real cream.
When her three children were in high school, Wanda went to work at KellWood in Altus. She worked there long after her children were grown and left home. She said it was one of the most rewarding jobs she had: to create something for others to wear made her feel good. She also worked at United Supermarket in the meat department. She had a friendly and talkative manner that made her a special employee that customers loved.
Family meant everything to Wanda, she loved being called Mama until she was promoted to Mema. Her second grandchild Shelley nailed the name choice and it stuck ever since.
Receiving Wanda at the gates of heaven are her mother, Vigie Meek Cochran; father, Vernon R. "Red" Reeves; adoptive parent, Chester Cochran; grandparents, Alfred and Rilla Meek; daughter, Robin Watkins; granddaughter, Christa Dawn Watkins; husband, Otis Watkins; siblings, Albert Cochran, Hubert Cochran; brother n laws, Melvin Lee, Don Johnston and Vern Willits; nephew, David Lee and many other sweet friends and family members..
Wanda is survived by two children, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. The children are Bull and wife Jude Watkins, Linda and husband Rex Cole; The grandchildren are Shelley Jo Renfro Federico, Tiffany and husband Ashley Clark, Koby Cole, Jay Watkins, and Kendra Cole. Great-grandchildren include Asher, Gracie, and Axton Clark, Waylon, Jax, and Kota Watkins, Rowdy Cole and Florida, and Linkin Cole Baker. Wanda is also survived by two sisters Ann Willits and Ruth Lee, and two sister-in-laws Nell Ballard Cochran and Lois Cochran Hill and many nieces and nephews.
Wanda said she had more than three children, she counted all those kids who would come to her home. Each stayed for different amounts of time, but there was always room for them in Wanda's home. Wanda was a friend to everyone. "Luke 12:31" and "Philippians 4:4" were two of Wanda's favorite Bible verses. Wanda had a saying that she used when a difficulty or death came into a person's life: "This too, shall pass" Yes, Wanda, "This too shall pass." for those of us left behind, as we lay you to rest and as you have gone to be with the Lord, we say, "see you soon".
The Watkins family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Monday, April 1, 2024, at Lowell - Tims Funeral Home, Altus, Oklahoma.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Lowell-Tims Funeral Home Chapel, Altus, Oklahoma with Doug Altom officiating, interment will follow at Altus City Cemetery, Altus, Oklahoma.
To leave a story about Wanda or a kind word to the family please visit Lowell-Tims.com
Services have been entrusted to Lowell - Tims Funeral Home and Crematory, Altus, Oklahoma.
The Watkins family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Monday April 1, 2024 at Lowell - Tims Funeral Home, Altus, Oklahoma.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at Lowell - Tims Funeral Home Chapel, Altus, Oklahoma with Doug Altom officiating, interment will follow at Altus City Cemetery, Altus, Oklahoma.
Services have been entrusted to Lowell - Tims Funeral Home and Crematory, Altus, Oklahoma.
To send flowers in memory of Wanda Lou Watkins, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Monday
1
Apr
5:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Lowell-Tims Chapel
1100 East Tamarack Road
Altus, OK 73521
Funeral
Tuesday
2
Apr
2:00 PM
Lowell-Tims Chapel
1100 East Tamarack Road
Altus, OK 73521
Cemetery Details
Location
Altus City Cemetery
2400 Falcon Drive
Altus, OK 73521
Thank you for sharing your
memory of Wanda
Provide comfort for the family by sending flowers or planting a tree in memory of Wanda Lou Watkins.
Send Flowers
Loading...