Opal Adele Watkins

December 23, 1936–December 31, 2025

Adele was born on December 23, 1936 to her parents Lealon and Opal Lee in Yuma, AZ. Adele attended Yuma schools and graduated from Yuma High School in 1954. Auntie Glenn introduced Sam to Adele at a party. Sam and Adele were soon inseparable, they were married on December 5, 1959.

After graduating from Nursing School in 1959, Adele worked for the hospital and would fill in at Yuma School District when RN’s went on leave. Soon Adele was hired full time with Yuma School District 1 as a school RN at OC Johnson school in 1979 where she retired after 20 years of service.

Adele never knew a stranger and was quite the story teller sharing her life experiences and things she’d learned along the way. Her quick whit, contagious laugh, and pleasant personality will forever remain in the lives of all who knew her.

She enjoyed baseball and SD Charger football. She was a member of the Quilters Guild and liked sewing, a dedicated member of First Presbyterian Church of Yuma and was blessed to receive Ordination of Deacon, and she was an auxiliary member of the Elks Lodge BPOE #476.

Adele was greeted at the pearly gates on December 31, 2025, by her husband Sam, grandson Robert Davis, brothers Verlan Lee and Gary Lee

Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her son Sean, daughter Kerry, granddaughter Seana Stegeman and great-grandchildren Robert, Ross, Riley, and Reid Stegeman , sisters-in-law Jeanne Lee and Claudette Hightower, and nephews Michael, Brian, Ron, and Ted Lee.

Luncheon and service will be held from 10am to 12pm at the Disabled American Veterans located at 954 S. 13th Ave., Yuma, AZ 85364

Followed by graveside services will be at Johnson’s Memorial Lawn Park on January 23, 2026 at 1 pm.

Adele will be missed by so many.

The family would like to Thank Desert Rose and Acacia Home Health for the love and caring support of Adele while in your facility. We would also like to Thank Marilyn at RN Honor Guard for honoring Adele.

Donations can be made in her honor to the Humane Society of Yuma or Disabled American Veterans Louis Levy Chapter 11.