Dorothy Watkins

Dorothy Watkins passed away February 6, 2016 at her home in Rayville. She was born January 7, 1933 in Perry, Oklahoma to Alex and Theo Kempka. She attended school in Sumner, Oklahoma where she was valedictorian of her 1951 graduating class. She met the love of her life, Billy Joe Watkins in English class at Oklahoma State University in Stilwater, Oklahoma. She and her husband, Billy Joe, moved to Rayville in 1962. She was a member of First Baptist Church, where she had the pleasure of serving the church as secretary for 35 years. Dorothy enjoyed creating special treats for her grandchildren. When her grandson, Billy, attended Riverfield Academy, his classmates would give him the King Cake baby for his grandmother, Dorothy, to make a “homemade” King Cake for them. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, Dorothy would design and deliciously cook a menu based on her Grandchildren’s favorite foods. One grandson said “Grammy’s a good cooker!” and all the rest of the grandchildren agreed.She was preceded in death by her husband; Billy Joe, her daughter; Donna, her parents: Alex and Theo Kempka of Perry, OK, and her brothers and sisters: Anna Kempka Shehow of Pound, WI; Arthur Kempka of Worcester, Mass; Edward Kempka of Perry, OK; Freida Brokop Hoeffer of Ponca City, OK; Olga Brokop of Perry, OK; Lil Brokop of Perry, OK; and Walter Brokop of Perry, OK. Dorothy was survived by a daughter - Deborah Rogers and husband Charles of Rayville; a son - Brent Watkins and wife Editha of Woodville, TX; seven grandchildren – Billy Watkins of Bath, Maine; Charles Rogers, III and wife Emily of Norfolk, VA; Jonathan Rogers and wife Hannah of Kansas City, MO; Deborah Hatfield and husband Chaz of Boones Mills, VA; Steven Rogers of Pineville, LA; Mary Rogers of Rayville and Jennifer Rogers of Rayville; three great grandchildren – Louisa Zimbrick-Rogers, Hannah Rogers, and Rose Rogers.Funeral services for Dorothy Watkins will be 2 pm Friday, February 12, 2016 at First Baptist Church with Rev. Joe Senn officiating. Burial will be in the Rayville Masonic Cemetery under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home-Rayville.Visitation will be held 10 am Friday at First Baptist Church. Dorothy and family have requested that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.Arrangements under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, Rayville, LA.