Mass of Christian Burial for 61-year-old Eugene Watkins will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday morning, July 25, 2016, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Comfrey, Minnesota. The church is located at 218 Field Street North.
Interment will be in the church cemetery, located north of Comfrey on Highway 258.
Visitation will be at Sturm Funeral Home-Comfrey Chapel, on Sunday, July 24, 2016, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The funeral home is located at 101 Field Street North. A second visitation will be held at the church the day of the funeral mass from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Eugene Arthur Watkins was born November 22, 1954, in Comfrey, the son of Arthur and Viola (Kotten) Watkins. Eugene was from a large family who loved him very much. They cared for him, played with him and took joy in his joy. Eugene had Down Syndrome and was served by Community Options Resources for more than 40 years. He had devoted staff and long time housemates who were also his friends. Eugene worked for Mankato Rehabilitation CI.
He loved swimming and baseball, and was a member of the silver medal baseball team at the International Special Olympics in 1986. Eugene was also an avid fan of Elvis, singing “Love Me Tender” to his parents on their 50th wedding anniversary – and to any baby he was privileged to hold.
God has taken our special son, brother, uncle, friend and housemate. We will miss him but we know he is at peace.
He is survived by mother Viola of Comfrey; siblings, Rita (Dennis) Heidelberger of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Carol Watkins of Comfrey, Jessica Watkins of Edgeley, North Dakota, Peter (Tanya) Watkins of Butterfield, Patrick (Patti) Watkins of Woodbury, Minnesota, Daniel (Cindy) Watkins of Saratoga, California, Samuel (Michelle) Watkins of Hector, Minnesota, Alice Wills of St. Peter, Minnesota and Randall (Michelle) Watkins of El Dorado Hills, California; uncle, Ivan Kotten of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota; aunts, Marie Jones of Owatonna, Minnesota and Jenny and Laura Lorenz of Trimont, Minnesota and many nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father; siblings, Catherine and William (Anna) Watkins and nephew, Larramy.