David Wayne "Tiny" Watkins, age 77, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo. He was born Feb. 25, 1947, in Fort Scott, the son of William Wayne Watkins and Edna Mae "Cricket" Kells Watkins. David graduated from the Fort Scott High School. He married Teresa Horton on Sept. 23, 1967. Because his family owned the ambulance service in Fort Scott, he was naturally drawn to a career in health care. He helped operate the ambulance service in both Bourbon and Crawford counties. He later graduated from Fort Scott Community College and became a registered nurse. He worked as a nurse at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott and also as a nurse at both the Nevada Regional Medical Center and Heartland Hospital in Nevada, Mo. Dave finished his nursing career as a traveling nurse where he served at several other area hospitals. Dave loved music and had played the drums in several local bands. He and Teresa enjoyed taking trips to Branson to attend the music shows. Many other memories were made on the many family vacations the family was able to take.
Survivors include his wife, Teresa, of the home; five children, Alicia Watkins, David Watkins (Alisha), Tracy Watkins and Scott Watkins all of Fort Scott and Billy Watkins of Deerfield, Mo. Also surviving are seventeen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Cricket Watkins, a daughter-in-law, Amy Watkins and a sister, Cathy Killion.
Rev. James Brackett will conduct funeral services at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27 at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 to 3p.m. Sunday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.