Obituary: Irene "Dora" Watkins

Irene "Dora" Watkins age 101, passed away on Friday, January 19, 2024. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 26, 2024, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Muffley Funeral Home, 1430 Thornton Street. Funeral Service to be held on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at 3:00 pm, Central Baptist Church, 2501 N Norris, Clovis, NM. Jadrien Brittenum, Spencer Odom, Steven Watkins, Jerrod Watkins, Brandon Floyd, Drew Hatley, Michael Millender, Mark Millender Jr., Cody Clower, and Brad Bender will serve as Pallbearers.

Dora Irene Hopkins Watkins was born in Hollene, New Mexico on November 7, 1922 to James C. and Dimple M. Hopkins. She was the oldest of 4 children. She started school at Hollene at the age of 4 to be sure the school had enough children and graduated in 1940. She told many stories of growing up on a farm milking cows, gathering eggs, churning butter, and taking care of horses, which they later traded for a tractor. Her family did not have electricity, so lanterns were used for light, and a wood stove was used for cooking and heat. Irene's mother was a great cook, and taught her how to cook, so they switched off chores sometimes. She learned to drive on a Model A Ford in the pasture. For fun, Irene and her siblings would play in the grain bins, play dominoes, ride bikes, swing on their tree, and sing and listen to their radio which was the only one in their community. Her family went to church in the same building that she went to school in. Irene was baptized at the age of 12, and never stopped serving the Lord.

Irene enrolled at Eastern Junior College, now known as ENMU, during World War II. She sold a few cows that her dad had raised for her which helped pay for college. Her tuition for the first year was $36. She took a 3rd grade teaching job in the Spring of 1943 at Lindsey Elementary before she graduated. She finished her degree in the summer of 1944 when she was 21. Irene met the love of her life, Dwight Wayland Watkins, and married him on June 12, 1947. Irene talked Dwight in going to college on the G.I. Bill. He soon graduated with his degree in education.

On a trip to California, they stopped in Ruidoso to inquire about teaching jobs, since Portales did not hire a man and wife. Both Irene and Dwight were offered jobs and continued the trip to California. They taught in Ruidoso for 4 years. During this time, their sweet bundle of joy, Steven Dwight, was born, and they were elated. Irene told the Lord to take him and use him as a preacher if he wanted.

Portales called and asked Dwight to take a job as a junior high shop teacher, so they moved back. In 1954, sweet little Marilyn Irene came, and they were so very happy. Irene believed her family was complete, but a sweet surprise came in 1956, Cynthia Gay was born, and everyone though she hung the moon. Irene taught a total of 32 years, including time at Lindsey Elementary, Nob Hill in Ruidoso, Artesia, and Highland Elementary. She retired in 1982. She influenced many Students who all loved her.

Her sweetest moments were spent with her family. She left a legacy of 3 children, 10 grandchildren, 21 great- grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren. She was known to sit at the dining room table, and just smile and watch as her family gathered for birthdays and celebrations, offering to help at every turn. Every time a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild would walk in the door, they would head straight for Grammy to give her a hug and a kiss. Her family has such precious memories of making mud pies, cooking, spending the night, and being prayed for every day. She was the apple of everyone's eye and her family was blessed by her precious spirit. Her life was full of loving the Lord with all of her heart. Her greatest wish and prayer was for her family to live for Christ, do what he ask, and be ready to meet him when the time comes. "It's the greatest thing we can all do," she said. She will be waiting with open arms for all of us, and when we say, " I Love you" she will undoubtedly respond with "I do you too!"

Survivors include three children; Steve (Melissa) Watkins, Marilyn (Jerry) Odom, and Cynthia Millender all of Clovis, NM, grandchildren; Steven Watkins, Jerrod Watkins, Melanie (Jadrien) Brittenum, Spencer (Natasha) Odom, Alicia (Brandon) Floyd, Julie (Cody) Clower, Christal (Drew) Hatley, Mark (Vanessa) Millender Jr., Michael Millender, and Danielle (Brad) Bender, 21 great grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents; James Clarence Hopkins, and Dimple May Grimes, her husband; Dwight Wayland Watkins, great- grandchild Alexis Brittenum, two sisters; Dorris Wood, Marguerite Hubbard, one brother; James Hopkins, and a son-in-law; Mark Millender Sr.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Muffley Funeral Home, http://www.muffleyfuneralhome.com, (575) 762-4435.