Kay Watkins

Kathryn “Kay’ Louise Collins Watkins, 85, joined the Lord surrounded by her family on Saturday. Jan. 18, 2014.
Born to Arthur and Mildred (Elliott) Collins on the family farm east of Trenton, she graduated from Trenton High School in 1946 and attended Fayette College in Fayette.
Kay married Louis C. “Lou” Watkins of Trenton on Jan. 26, 1947. To this union were born seven children, Greg (Gayle), Hurst, TX; David (Linda), Blaine, MN; Mark (Carol), Maryville; Linda Akins, Maryville; Lori (Mark) Wymore, Liberty; Lisa Watkins, Maryville and Lanette (Jeff) Grubb, St. Joseph.
After they married they moved to Maryville, where Louis graduated from Northwest Missouri State Teachers College. In 1948 they moved to Newton, IA, where Kay was the organist at the First Baptist Church. They moved to Maryville in 1957, where they opened Watkins True Value Hardware.
Kay’s love for the Lord led her to assume many active roles in her church. She was the local area president of the Women’s Missionary Union, leader of the Girls in Action, vacation Bible school leader, Sunday school teacher, pianist and organist and organizer of the International Students Banquet. She also assumed the role of den mother for the local Cub Scouts. While doing all of these things she also supported Lou working in the hardware.
Kay always had an open heart and an open home to the family and the community, providing a constant Christ-like example to those around her.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Richard Collins; and a son-in-law, Gary Kirtley.
She is survived by her husband, Lou; seven children; 55 grandchildren; 65 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Donald and his wife, Dee.
Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014 at the First Baptist Church in Maryville.
Funeral services are 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, also at the church. Burial is in the Rural Dale Cemetery, east of Trenton.
Memorial donations are suggested to the building fund at the First Baptist Church in Maryville.