James "Jim" Richard Watkins

March 31, 1951 - December 2, 2016

James “Jim” Richard Watkins, 65, of Columbus, KS, died Friday morning, December 2, 2016 at his home following an illness. Jim was born March 31, 1951, in Columbus, KS, the son of Richard A. and Clara Jean (McFall) Watkins. He was a lifelong resident of the area and a graduate of Columbus High School in 1969. On November 1, 2008, Jim married Rose Moore in Columbus, KS; she survives at the home. Jim worked as a restaurant equipment installer for Joe Harding Inc. in Joplin, MO, for many years and was also known to be an accomplished carpenter. Jim was of the Christian faith; loved hunting, fishing, building things, painting old saw blades and his beloved dogs. He also was a loving caregiver for his stepdad, Ted Simkin, and mom. Additional survivors include his children Lisa Low and husband Cecil of West Mineral, KS, and Rick Stark and wife Sarah of Columbus, KS; granddaughter Paris Pack of Yuba City, CA; siblings Mike Watkins and wife Lauri of Bartlesville, OK, Pat Watkins and wife Jan Williams of Midway, GA, and Ann Banks and husband Kim of Joplin, MO, and additional grandchildren Ariel, Caitlin, Drake, Kemper, Dalton, Kolby, Kayleigh, Beau, Blake and Kortnie. Jim was preceded in death by his daughter Crystal Watkins Pack and son D. J. Stark. Memorial Services will be 10:00 am Wednesday, December 7, 2016, at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Columbus, KS, with Pastor Dennis Johnson officiating. Burial will be at a later date at Edgmand Cemetery in Columbus, KS. In lieu of flowers the family asks expressions of sympathy in the form of memorials to the Mercy Cancer Center Joplin, MO. Friends may drop off or mail memorials to the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home 611 S. East Ave. Columbus, KS 66725. E-mail condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com . Arrangements are by Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Columbus, KS.