James “Jim” Wallace Watkins, the son of Wallace Ray and Beulah Berniece (Chapman) Watkins, was born November 26, 1943, on the farm east of Tarkio, Missouri. Jim attended Homer School in rural Tarkio and graduated in 1961 from Tarkio High School.

On July 1, 1965, Jim was united in marriage to Janet Sue Brown in the Atchison County Courthouse in Rock Port, Missouri. They became the parents of a daughter and son, Jamie Sue and Jason. Soon after their marriage, Jim left to serve his country in Korea during the Vietnam Era, serving in the Signal Corps. He was honorably discharged from the Army with the rank of Sergeant (E-5). After his active military service, Janet and Jim moved to the family farm east of Tarkio where he lived until 2019. Jim, his father, W.R., and his brother, Charley farmed the land that has been in the Watkins family for at least a century.

Jim was a member of the Methodist Church in Tarkio, Missouri. Jim was elected to the Tarkio Special Road District for several years, as was his father before him. Jim dedicated his life to the land and livestock during his working years. In his later years, Jim had several motorcycles including his Harley trike on which he loved to spend Sundays riding around Northern Missouri. His Harley was his pride and joy. Jim enjoyed the outdoors and loved spending time fishing and hunting with family and friends. He was very proud of his grandchildren. Jim often said that getting a hug from a grandchild was better than any medicine, and ended family visits with a hug, a kiss, and a “Much Love”. Jim passed away, Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Oak Pointe of Kearney in Kearney, Missouri, at the age of 82.

Besides his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his brother, Charley B. Watkins, Tarkio, Missouri and sister, Karen Kay Sturtz, Sidney, Iowa. Survivors include wife, Janet Watkins, Kearney, Missouri; daughter, Jamie (Donald) Erwin, Kearney, Missouri and son, Jason (Sarah) Watkins, Rock Port, Missouri; grandchildren, Bethany Rae (Chad) Balke, Kansas City, Missouri, Jace Michael Erwin, Kearney, Missouri, Josie Elizabeth (Jacobo Barriga) Watkins, Kansas City, Missouri, Aubrey Nicole and Norah Danielle Watkins, Rock Port, Missouri; great-grandchild, Evander Chadwick Balke; sister, Bonnie (Watkins) Novy, Grand Island, Nebraska, and brother, John Watkins, Tarkio, Missouri, and numerous nieces and nephews.

All memorial services are pending.

Memorials: James Watkins Memorial Fund.

Cremation Arrangements: Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.

www.minterfuneralchapels.com