Obituary

Thomas Edwin Watkins

December 19, 1935 - February 28, 2024

Thomas Edwin Watkins, age 88 and a resident of Covington, Louisiana passed away Wednesday morning February 28, 2024 at St. Tammany Parish Hospital. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 19, 1935 and was a former longtime resident of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Tom served his country in the United States Navy, stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and several instillations in Europe. After concluding his service abroad, he joined the U.S. Naval Reserve, which brought him to New Orleans. He worked off-shore for a time before moving to Ocean Springs. Tom worked for many years at the Chevron Refinery in Pascagoula, where he was part of the first crew that brought the plant production online. He later retired after several years as a machinist supervisor and began a joyful retirement full of traveling. Tom would become a volunteer National Park Ranger, which led him and his wife to serve at parks all across the United States. He always enjoyed woodworking, hunting and taking a “good nap” each day. Tom was a wonderful husband and father while raising his two children to be independent and resourceful, always serving as a great example of what a family man should be.

Survived by: Wife of 63 years: Gail Marine Watkins of Covington; Daughter and Son in law: Cindy and Greg Bourne of the Pine Community; Son and Daughter in law: Lloyd and Janet Watkins of Cody, Wyoming; Grandchildren: Christopher and Shena Bourne and their children Aaron and Kora Beth, Joshua Watkins; Brothers in law and a Sister in law: Lloyd and Nancy Marine of Ocean Springs, MS, William “Sonny” Furr of Crystal Springs, MS; Nieces: Heidi Pitre, Laura Furr

He was preceded in death by his parents Thomas Edward Watkins and Frances McConnell Watkins, sisters Mary and Patricia and an uncle Earl McConnell.