of Harrison, AR

December 30, 1948 - October 9, 2020

John Watkins, age 71, of Harrison, Arkansas, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Friday, October 9, 2020, after losing his battle to pancreatic cancer. John was born on December 30, 1948, in Snowball, Arkansas. He was one of five children born to Omer and Dorothy Watkins.

The family moved from Snowball to Bellefonte where he attended school before moving to Wichita, Kansas. They lived there for seven years before moving back to Harrison, where he graduated from in 1966. John attended college at the University of Central Arkansas for three years. In 1970, his birthdate was the third date drafted for the Vietnam War. John was stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi. He served in the Navy until he received a medical discharge and returned home. When he returned, he went to work at his family's business. This is where his love for cars began.

On June 25, 1971, John married the love of his life, Martha, at Calvary Baptist Church. John and Martha had three daughters, two sons-in-law, and seven grandchildren who were the most important things in his life. In 1972, John became a salesman at Modern Parts and then purchased the business in 1973. In May 2019, John retired after working 48 years. When he was not at Modern Parts, he was restoring old cars, working on the farm, or cruising to car shows with Martha. Together, they traveled all over the U.S attending car shows with their friends. John was a devoted member of Calvary Baptist Church and served as a trustee for several years. He has been a faithful servant to God and to his family.

John was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy (Horn) Watkins; his father, Omer Watkins; his father-in-law, Kenneth Snow; his sister, Virley Wilson, and her husband Oscar; his brother, James Watkins; and his brother-in-law, Clifford Gale.
John is survived by his wife; his daughters, April Mattix, Amy Graham, and her husband Duane, and Amber Likes and her husband Brandon; his grandchildren, Isabella Gibbany, Tisha, and Tyler Pendarvis, Taylor and Emma Graham, Josalyn Likes, and Ava Likes.

He is also survived by his sisters, Sharon Burns and Shirley Gale; his mother-in-law, Wilma Snow; his brother-in-law, Kenny Snow and his wife Kay; his sister-in-law, Sherrlene Watkins; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A visitation was held at Roller-Christeson's Funeral Home Tuesday, October 13, 2020, from 5:00-8:00pm.

Funeral services were held at First Baptist Church in Harrison, Wednesday, October 14, 2020, at 10:00 am.

Interment service followed at Western Grove Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Duane Graham, Taylor Graham, Brandon Likes, Lonnie Brockman, Terry Yeager, Ronald Delk, Kenny Snow, and Tommy Pulliam.

Honorary pallbearers were Tyler and Tisha Pendarvis, Isabella Gibbany, Zachary Wyles, Emma Graham, Josalyn Likes, Ava Likes, Steve Cantrell, Sam Scroggins, Louis Melton, Kenny Keeter, and Modern Parts Employees.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Christeson Funeral Home
519 North Spring Street
Harrison, AR  72601
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com