Audrey M. Watkins

Audrey M. Watkins, 87, who lived at Springfield Supportive Living, died at 4:10 am, on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at St. John’s Hospice, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born May 3, 1926 in Sherman Township, Illinois to Clarence F. and Ella May Irvin Cravens. She married William Woods in 1949 and together they had four children. They later divorced and she married George E. Watkins in 1959. George had four children and together they had three additional children.

She was a member of Sherman Nazarene Church and Fraternal Order of Eagles #437 Ladies Auxiliary. She helped her parents run a grocery store and worked for Hobbs Manufacturing and later settled in as a homemaker. Audrey loved spending time with family, traveling, playing games, especially bingo and scrabble, dancing and working puzzles. She was loved by everyone who met her and was best recognized by her ever present smile.

She is survived by one son, Melvin L. (Doris) Woods, five daughters, Sharon Delaney, Karen (Marc) LeCount, Lois (Rod) Hare, Dorothy (John) Negangard and Carla Watkins; one step-daughter, Helen (Bruno) Odorizzi; twenty-five grandchildren; seventeen step-grandchildren; eighty-eight great grandchildren; twenty great great grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Mary Cravens; numerous nieces and nephews and several cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, George E. Watkins; one son, Mike Woods; three step-children, George E. Watkins, Jr., Clara Lomprez and Wanda Rogers; three brothers and one sister.

Visitation: 4-7 pm, Thursday, March 27, 2014 at Staab Funeral Home.

Funeral Service: 10 am, Friday, March 28, 2014 at Staab Funeral Home with Reverend Will Hayworth officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Hospice.