Barbara Ann Watkins

Barbara Ann Johnson Watkins was born on August 31st 1941 in Vernal Utah. She was the 7th of 11 children born to Benjamin Franklin Johnson and Katie Merle Smuin. She grew up in the Davis area where she met and married her eternal sweetheart Gene Edwin Watkins on June 11th 1959. They were solemnized in the Salt Lake temple a year later. As a child growing up all Barb wanted to do in life was get married and have babies. Barb and Gene were blessed with six children, three boys and three girls. Barb worked at several part time jobs including peeling logs for mine props for her dad and cleaning houses as a teenager. After marriage she worked at Standard Saddle Tree, Cal Dee's mini Market and Bigger Burger. In 1983 Barb started working as a substitute rural mail carrier for the post office and was there until she and Gene moved to Montana in 1986. She was the relief Post Master in both the Fishtail and Roscoe Montana Post Offices. In 2000 Gene and Barb built a home and returned to Vernal to retire. Barbara had many talents that enhanced and blessed the lives of her family. Barb loved to paint and many summers were spent painting rocks with the Grandchildren. Barbara spent years playing with the wool from her sons sheep. She would skirt it, wash, dye, spin, felt & knit the wool into treasures. Everywhere Barbara traveled with her family she would collect rocks and come home with a small one or a truck sized one. Her greatest talent was that of being a loving mother, sister, Grandmother and Great-great Grandmother. She treasured, loved and valued every single member of her family. Barbara was always an active member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She served in many callings and at the temple. She had a beautiful testimony and a great love for her savior. Even as she struggled with Alzheimers she would say, "The Savior promised he wouldn't give us more than we can handle." That belief was a strength to her and her family. Barb is survived by her husband Gene, sons Mike (Janet) Watkins, Doug (Kristy) Watkins, Mat (Cami) Watkins and daughters Claudeen Watkins of Massena NY, Paulene (Shane) Brady of Rangey CO, Mandy (Joe) Hudson. As well as her brother Ben Johnson and sisters Donna Rasmussen, Lanore Lance, Leah Anderson, Ellen Clark, and Carol Gardiner. She has 23 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by both her parents, brothers Don, Jay and Ferrell Johnson, sister Lola Davis and grandson Laramie Brady. Barb's earthly journey was completed on March 20th 2016. 20 years before she sat down and wrote of her memories. Her children and grandchildren will be forever grateful she took the time for that before she was taken from us. Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, March 25, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the Davis 4th Ward Chapel (3990 South 2500 East). A viewing for family and friends will be Thursday at the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary from 6-8 PM and at the Chapel one hour prior to the services. Burial will be in the Vernal Memorial Park. www.blackburnvernalmortuary.com