Obituaries

Harold Gene “Doc” Watkins, 92, of Madill, Okla., passed away Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Frisco, Texas. He was born on May 19, 1925, in Madill to the late Albert Elbert Watkins and Lelah Mae Sparlin Watkins. Doc was raised in Madill where he lived his entire life. He started buying land and raising cattle at the age of 17. Doc later built fencing for the Oklahoma highway department and worked on the family dairy farm. He married Mary Margaret Brown on May 21, 1955, in Madill. In 1960 he started W.W. Trailers in Madill, and it grew into the world’s largest trailer manufacturing company. He owned and operated Watkins Ranch where he raised 900 cattle on 11,000 acres. Doc was a member of the Cattleman’s Association and in his younger years the Madill Church of Christ, but was currently attending the Open Range Cowboy Church. He enjoyed raising cattle, riding horses, and team roping.

Jessie Lee Hill, 61, of Kingston, Okla., passed away Monday, April 16, 2018, at his home in Kingston. He was born on June 12, 1956, in Marlin, Texas, to the late Leroy Hill and Vivian Yvonne Martin Hill. Jessie was raised in Dallas, Texas, where he lived his entire life. He was self-employed in construction work. Jessie was affiliated with the Baptist faith and loved spending time with his family. He also enjoyed watching westerns and was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan. Jessie loved spending time with family and grandchildren. He will be forever missed by family and friends. He is survived by his children: Waco Hill, Garland, Texas; Alisha Bridgeman and husband, Cody, Kingston, Okla.; Melissa Donnan and husband, Cody, Dallas, Texas; six grandchildren: Cole and Emma Bridgeman; Caelan; Clara and Mattie Donnan; Avery Norton; sisters: Bobbie Pryor, Dallas, Texas; Sherry Hill, Dallas, Texas; Joyce Hargrove and husband, Bert, Waco, Texas; and brother: Robert Hill, Dallas, Texas.

William (Bill) Louis Lee, of Willis, Okla., passed away on Feb. 8, 2018. Bill was born on April 28, 1928, in Purdin, Mo., to the late Rose (Dodge) Lee and the late Virgil Lee. He worked as a telegraph operator for the Santa Fe Railroad for 41 years, four months, from Jan. 29, 1949, until May 31, 1990. He was married to his high school sweetheart Katie Beatrice (Gall) Lee “Bea” for 60 years, and lived in Clovis, N.M. After Bea’s death he met Frances Bowers, of Willis, on an online dating service and he moved to Willis. They would have been married 10 years this September. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Richard, Jimmy, and Gene; sisters: Helen, Maxine, and Mary; and granddaughter: Virginia Gale Lee.

Itha Drucella “Cindy” Vaughn, 82, of Lebanon, Okla., passed away Friday, April 6, 2018, at the Brookside Nursing Center in Madill, Okla. She was born on Jan. 13, 1936, in Marshall County to the late George Manuel Bridgeman and Vivian Irene Pardue Bridgeman. She was raised in Arizona where she lived most of her life. Cindy married Norman Grover Vaughn on Aug. 9, 1951, in Madill, and he preceded her in death on Oct. 29, 2012. She has lived the past five years in Lebanon with her brother Roy. Cindy was a member of the Lebanon Baptist Church and enjoyed sewing, yard work, and gardening.
She is survived by her children: Gary Vaughn, Aguila, Ariz.; Brenda Flores and husband, Art, Chandler, Ariz.; Cindy Ruybal and husband, Dave, Alamosa, Colo.; seven grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; brothers: Roy Bridgeman and wife, Jimmie Sue, Lebanon, Okla.; and Tyrone Bridgeman and wife, Karen, Oakland, Okla.

Alvina Knight, 78, of Madill, Okla., passed away Tuesday, April 3, 2018, at the Brookside Nursing Center, Madill, Okla. She was born on May 19, 1939, in Madill to the late Grady Alvie Jackson and Phebe Lorean Sprouse Jackson. Alvina was raised in Madill, where she attended school. She married Jerry Don Knight on Jan. 15, 1955, in Madill, and he preceded her in death on May 19, 2006. Alvina was affiliated with the Baptist faith, and she enjoyed spending time with her family, camping, dancing, and watching soap operas.

Sandra Kendall, 62, of Madill, Okla., passed away Sunday, April 8, 2018. Services are 10 a.m. Friday, April 13, 2018, at Watts Memorial Chapel, Madill, Okla. (Watts Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Madill)

Mary Elizabeth King, 73, of Wheeler , Texas, passed away Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Services were 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 7, 2018, at Buffalo Baptist Church. (Rose Chapel Funeral Service, Sayre, Okla.)

Johnnie (Buddy) Boyd Eakin, 66, of Madill, Okla., passed away Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Services were 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at Province Cemetery, Ardmore, Okla. (Watts Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Madill)

Thomas Harold Wilkerson, 90, of Southmayd, Texas, passed away Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at the Homestead of Sherman Nursing Center, Sherman, Texas. He was born on May 24, 1927, in Bowie, Texas, to the late Roy L. Wilkerson and Rebecca Lowe Wilkerson. Thomas was raised in Shay. He attended the Shay school and graduated from the Kingston High School in 1945. He attended a year at Murray State College before going to work for the Oklahoma Natural Gas Company. Thomas married Wanda Fay Mobley on Sept. 19, 1954, and she preceded him in death in 1995. Thomas moved to Texas where he worked on a dairy farm and later retired in 1990 after 19 years working for the Texas Highway Department. He married Betty Vails on Oct. 1, 1996. Thomas was affiliated with the Assembly of God Church. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, woodworking, and doing anything with his hands.

Royce Gene Locke, 73, of Madill, Okla., passed away Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, in Lancaster, Texas, with his family by his side. He was born on Oct. 12, 1944, in Madill, to the late James Clyde Locke and Velma Faye Tillerson Locke. Royce was raised in Madill and graduated from the Madill High School in 1964. He joined the Army National Guard and received an Honorable Discharge after five years and six months of service. He worked as a butcher at S&S Grocery and later as a meat inspector for 13 years for USDA. Royce enjoyed fishing, hunting, woodworking, and listening to country music. In his later years he enjoyed antiquing and scrap picking.