Lucile Lucy Marie Watkins , April 18, 1923 — February 23, 2019

With sadness we announce that our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Lucy Watkins, passed away on February 23, 2019. She was born on April 18, 1923, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Jay E. Yarnell and Emily A. Zdychmec. Her mother died when Lucy was just 13 years old.

An only child, she was smart, strong, feisty and fussy. Motivated to get out on her own, she was able to graduate from Central High School in Kansas City at age 16. She went to business college and worked in New York until WWII.

She enlisted in the U.S Navy WAVES and was trained as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate (Instruments) at Camp Elliott, San Diego, California. She served three years there on Coronado Island. After her discharge from the Navy, Lucy received an acknowledgement of honorable service signed by James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy.

While in the Navy she met a handsome sailor sitting next to her—and married Howard Watkins on January 21, 1945 in Los Angeles, California. They spent nearly 60 years together. Lucy and Howard were wonderful loving parents to daughters Christine and Janice—supportive, involved in their activities, providing years of fun at their beach houses in Southern California.

Very athletic, Lucy, as a young girl, asked her father to sign for her to join the Roller Derby. He told her an emphatic NO! She played ladies competitive softball in her 20’s and was an accomplished water skier and loved bowling.

In her 90’s, she rarely missed Wii Bowling and was the competitor that everyone came to watch. Professionally, Lucy was the office manager for a law firm in Los Angeles for many years as well as a successful real estate agent. She and Howard were very involved with the Loyal Order of Moose lodge.

She worked her way up to the highest level of Senior Regent of the Women’s Auxiliary. Lucy first and foremost loved her family. She was devastated when Janice passed away at age 23.

She is survived by daughter, Christine (Mike), granddaughter, Beth Ann (Jason), great- grandsons, Ben and Sam, nephews Brad (Neva) and Bill (Carol). She was preceded in death by her husband, daughter, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins. She requested no services and will be buried at a later date next to Howard and Janice in Southern California.

We would like to offer our sincere appreciation to everyone at The Ridge Cottonwood and Signature Hospice for their care, compassion and services.

If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.