Emma Jean Watkins

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

Jean was born on Aug. 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 1955 and he passed away on Jan. 26, 2014.

Survivors include:

One daughter — Karen Bittinger (husband: Lowell), Fishers, Indiana

One son — Richard Watkins (wife: Laura), Poplar Bluff, Missouri

Four 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.

Condolences may be expressed at williamsonspencer.com.