Richard Thomas Watkins

Richard "Rick" Watkins, the son of Marsh Watkins and the late Bobbie Lucius Watkins, was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on December 6, 1958, and passed away at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on March 31, 2007, at the age of 48 years, 3 months and 25 days. Rick had lived in Dexter his entire life and was a funeral director and co-owner of the Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Puxico, Parma and Morehouse. He was a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, the Missouri Funeral Directors Association, the Southeast Missouri Funeral Directors Association and was Past-President of the Southeast Missouri Funeral Directors Association. He was a member of the Elks Lodge in Dexter and the Cape Girardeau Grey Hound Protection Association. On August 6, 2003, he was married to Betty Shuerenberg in New Orleans, Louisiana. Surviving are his wife, Betty Watkins of Dexter, Missouri; two sons, Cory Watkins of St. Louis, Missouri, Trevor Watkins of Hillsboro, Missouri; his father and step-mother, Marsh and Dixie Watkins of Dexter, Missouri; one step-son, Matt Shuerenberg of Dexter, Missouri; one step-daughter, Stephanie Flippin of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; two brothers, Robert Watkins of Bloomfield, Missouri and Michael Watkins of Dexter, Missouri. Many other relatives and friends also survive. In addition to his mother he was preceded in death by two brothers, Bill and John Kevin Watkins. Friends may call on Tuesday, April 3, 2007, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 4, 2007, at 11:00 AM in the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with the Rev. Vaughn Wright of Dexter, Missouri officiating. Interment will be in the Dexter Cemetery in Dexter, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Missouri in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Stoddard County Childrens Home, P O Box , Dexter, Missouri 63841.