Mary Frances Watkins

Mary Frances Watkins of Castle Hayne passed away peacefully on December 14, 2022 at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center with her family by her side.  Mary Frances was a most beautiful person inside and out and was the epitome of a true southern lady.  A lifelong resident of Castle Hayne, she was born to Paul and Julia Gmytruk Puskas on September 10, 1936.  Mary Frances was a 1953 graduate of New Hanover High School and met her husband-to-be Horace Watkins soon after through mutual friends; they were married on April 14, 1956.  At the time of her death, they had been married over 66 and a half years.  Above all things, she wanted a large family with Horace, the love of her life, and God blessed Horace and Mary Frances with five children and nine grandchildren who survive her:  Susan Watkins Thomas; her husband Tommy, and her children Ashley and Jeremy Harts; Janet Watkins Harris, her husband Nick, and their daughters Brooke and Allison Harris; Patrick Watkins, his wife Shannon, and their children Hayden and Dylan Watkins, Brett Watts, Brittany May (Cody) and grandson Candor; Mary Jane Phelps, her partner James (Jamie) Howell, and her son Payton Phelps; Ray Watkins, his wife Caroline, and their daughters Savannah and Layne Watkins.  She is also survived by her husband Horace; sister Betty Lou Coley; sister in law Jean Puskas; brother in law Alton Watkins (Sandra); her special, life long best friend Charlene Pete; and a large extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews.  She is predeceased by her parents, her brothers John Paul and Ernest Puskas, and special cousins Patricia Gmytruk Whitfield and Annette Boryk Oppegaard.  Mary Frances devoted her “extra” time to St. Stanislaus Catholic Church where she was a life long member, serving on the Ladies Guild, Polish Festival Committee, and the new church building committee.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, December 17, 2022 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church followed by a funeral mass at 11:00 AM.  Burial will be in the St. Stanislaus Church Cemetery immediately following.  Pallbearers will be Payton Phelps, Hayden Watkins, Dylan Watkins, Brett Watts, Brian Puskas, and Marty Yakimovich.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church Building Fund at 4849 Castle Hayne Road, Castle Hayne, NC  28429 and/or Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Foundation, 1414 Physicians Dr., Wilmington, NC  28401-7335.