Billie Jean O'Daniel Watkins

Billie Jean (O’Daniel) Watkins, 83 year-old Maud, Oklahoma resident passed from this life on Saturday, January 1, 2011 at her home in Maud.  She was born July 9, 1927 in Maud, Oklahoma to parents Grace “Pearl” (Moore) O’Daniel and Emmette Herne “Jack” O’Daniel. Billie Jean grew up in Maud where her parents owned and operated O’Daniel Grocery Store.  She graduated from Maud High School in 1945. Billie Jean returned to Maud three years ago moving from Purcell where she had lived for 27 years.  She married Eldo Watkins on October 25, 1980 in Purcell, Oklahoma.  While in Purcell she was a homemaker and a member of Heartland Baptist Church and of the Women’s Garden Club. Survivors include two daughters, Cathy “Dianne” Newland of Long Beach, California and “Bobby” Caroll Grammer and her husband Thomas M. Grammer of Campbellsville, Kentucky; one step-daughter, Camille Pinion and her husband Jack Pinion of Norman, Oklahoma; one brother and sister-in-law, Curtis and Wanda O’Daniel of Maud, Oklahoma; nine grandchildren, Candice Bigsby of Long Beach, California, Jodie Whitlow of Alberta, Canada, Chaddwick McKeen of Newport Beach, California, Deena Wilson of Shawnee, Oklahoma, (Triplets*) *Brandi Roberts of Shawnee, Oklahoma, *Bethany Copeland of Campbellsville, Kentucky, *Brigette Copeland of Topeka, Kansas, Shanna Leeds of Yukon, Oklahoma and Jeff Pinion of Norman, Oklahoma; 22 great-grandchildren; and a host of other family and dear friends. Billie Jean is preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Pearl O’Daniel; by her first husband, Paul Ledbetter; her second husband, Fred Bowyer; by her third husband, Eldo Watkins who died in 2003; one daughter, Darla Jean Ledbetter; two brothers, Howard and Ray O’Daniel; one son-in-law, Merle Newland who died in 2002; one granddaughter, Cindy McKeen; two great-grandchildren, Blake Davis and Langston Stone. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 7, 2011 at Trinity Baptist Church in Maud, Oklahoma. Billie Jean’s nephew, Rev. Charley O’Daniel along with her pastor Bro. Bill Irwin and Rev. Rusty McMullen who is the minister at Trinity Baptist Church will officiate the service. Interment will follow at Cummings Cemetery in Maud, Oklahoma. Casket Bearers will be: Jackie O’Daniel, Stevie O’Daniel, Barry O’Daniel, Kevin O’Daniel, Clarence Hopper and Brent Hurd. Services are under the direction of Knight-Swearingen Funeral Home in Maud, Oklahoma.  Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. through Thursday. Funeral Information: January 7, 2011, 11:00 AM Trinity Baptist Church located at Wanda Jackson Blvd., Maud, OK 74854