Billy "Bill" Ray Watkins, 93, went to his heavenly home on February 1, 2024, in Paris, Texas, surrounded by loving family.

Bill was born on September 26, 1930, in Wewoka, Oklahoma, the son of Wesley Watkins and Mamie (Williams) Watkins. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Clark Watkins; an infant daughter, Susan Renee, and grand-daughter, Maggie Lynn DuBois.

Bill grew up in Holdenville, Oklahoma. Upon graduating high school, Bill joined the US Navy in 1951. He served proudly during the Korean War as a Gunner's Mate and Destroyer Escort on the USS Wiseman. Bill received an honorable discharge in 1954. He returned to Holdenville, later moving to Oklahoma City where he spent the majority of his life and where he married his loving wife, Lynda Dunham, on January 9, 1993. Together they built a life in Paris, Texas where they have resided for the last 20 plus years. They have been members of the First United Methodist Church in Paris for many years. Bill was also in the insurance business most of his life and was a proud member of the Choctaw Nation.

Bill loved to watch OU and OSU football.  He was a voracious reader of mystery novels and watched war movies. In his later years, he enjoyed playing poker, scratch-off tickets, a good cigar and his wife Lynda's famous double crusted cherry pie. Above all else, Bill loved his family, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Bill is survived by his wife, Lynda Watkins; children, Patrica Allison and husband, George of Ft Worth, TX, Clark Watkins and wife, Diane of Kansas City, MO, Michele Martin and husband, Greg of Grove, OK; stepchildren, James N. Barnes and wife, Delise of Starkville, MS, Tammie Dooley and husband, Tom of Tulsa, OK and Lisa Hague and husband, Bob of Sherman, TX; grandchildren, Kelsey Rhine and husband, Josh of Grove, OK, Allie Hughes and husband, Michael of Bixby, OK, Will Allison and wife, Emily of Ft. Worth, TX, Chase Watkins and wife, Cappie of Kansas City, MO, Tess Hart and husband, Broc Crook of Durham, NC, Jake Martin, Mollie Brinkley, Jennifer Nelson, Amy Hawkins, John Johnson, Lane Pierce, Tyler Barnes, Zach Barnes and wife, Sarah, Logan Barnes, Morgan Barnes, Wyatt Barnes, Charlie Burdett and Allie Lane, along with many beautiful great grand-children, and a host of other family, friends and loved ones.