Emma Jean Watkins

    Emma Jean Watkins, age 83, a resident of Carmel, passed away on Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at Carmel Health and Living in Carmel, Indiana.  She was a former resident of Berne and Randolph County.  

    Jean was born on August 26, 1937 in Winchester, Indiana, the daughter of William and Carmen Dorine (Conley) Nelson.  She was a member of Berne First Church of the Nazarene where she taught Sunday School and Southwest Church of the Nazarene in Indianapolis.  Jean retired from Economy Printing Company in Berne after 30 years of service.  She married Lowell Watkins  in June of 1955 and he passed away on January 26, 2014.  

    Survivors include:

    1 daughter:  Karen Bittinger (husband Lowell) – Fishers, Indiana 

    1 son:  Richard Watkins (wife Laura) – Poplar Bluff, Missouri 

    4 grandchildren; Emma Bittinger, Sarah Bittinger, Richelle (husband Cody) Kays and Rebekah Watkins

    She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lowell, a daughter, Debra Watkins, a grandson Nicholas Watkins and siblings Letha Deaton, Mary Davis, Ruth Welker, William Nelson, Marie Bowers, Lowell Nelson, Thomas Nelson, Donald Nelson, Raymond Nelson and James Nelson.  

    Private visitation and services will be held at Williamson-Spencer and Penrod Funeral Home in Portland.  Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, east of Farmland, Indiana.  

    In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed towards the Alzheimer’s Association in Indianapolis.  

    Online condolences may be sent to www.williamsonspencer.com. 

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