Ima Jean Watkins was born Ima Jean Thornton on April 14, 1932 in Sedgwick, Colorado to Mark and Gladys Thornton. She was their fourth child of eleven. The Thornton family moved to the Denver Front Range area about 3 years after Jean was born. They later moved to Oregon and settled in the Brooks area near Salem. She met her husband Robert (Bob) Watkins while visiting her older sister Phyllis in Erie, Colorado. Bob was scheduled to go into the Navy, so they wrote to each other during this time. They were married June 12, 1955, and lived in Erie, Colorado. They moved to Northglenn, Colorado in 1962, where she resided the rest of her life. When her children were in junior high, she started working in daycare in the infant department and retired in the late nineties. She enjoyed growing flowers and crocheting blankets for others. She loved decorating the house for the holidays and spending time with family.
She is survived by: brother, Raymond Thornton of Washington; two sisters, Betty Kites of Oregon, and Bertha Hartman of Washington; three sons; Tom Watkins (Gwen) Colorado, Tim Watkins (Michelle) Wyoming, and Terry Watkins Colorado; four grandchildren, Alex, Lucas, Derek, and Jenette; one great grandchild, Chance.
Visitation will be held on February 6, 2021 at 1:00 pm at Olinger Highland Mortuary & Cemetery, 10201 Grant St, Thornton, CO. Graveside Service will be held on February 6, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Olinger Highland Mortuary & Cemetery, 10201 Grant St, Thornton, CO.
