Ronnie Joe Watkins

Visitation to honor Ronnie's life will be held at Chelsea Funeral Home on March 3rd from 1-6 p.m. with family greeting friends from 4-6 p.m.  Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 4, 2024 at the Chelsea Assembly of God Church.

Ronnie Watkins passed away on February 16, 2024 in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 70, with his wife at his side.

Ronnie Joe Watkins was Born March 26, 1953 To Joe and Betty (Horner) Watkins, in Chandler, Arizona at the Williams Air Force Base. When he was 6 months old, his father returned from Korea and the family returned home to Chelsea, Oklahoma where Ronnie was raised. He attended Chelsea schools, graduating with the class of 1973. During those years he had a love for agriculture and baseball. Ronnie was the first to admit he would rather skip school to go hunting and fishing than going to class.

After graduation, Ronnie married his high school sweetheart, Rhonda Mizer. They made their home in Chelsea and to this union, welcomed two sons, Charles Joe and Tommy Joe. He worked for The Chelsea Mill and later for Hesston Corporation, Anchor Stone and Empire Construction. The family moved to Laverne, Oklahoma a few years later where Ronnie worked as a floor hand in the oil fields for Unit Drilling and as a ranch hand for the Johnny Winn Ranch. In 1990 Ronnie and his family returned to Chelsea, and settled on their own farm. Over the next several years Ronnie tended his farm as well as working for Pinkerton Security before retiring.

Ronnie's vibrant personality was marked by his no-nonsense attitude, coupled with a generous heart ready to assist anyone in need. He had a soft spot for his grandchildren, often using candy to bribe them. He was passionate about farm life, and took delight in raising cattle, horses, and pigs on his farm. Ronnie and Rhonda were active in the Chelsea FFA, especially during their boys High School years, raising livestock and traveling with the boys to show their animals at local and state fairs.

In his spare time Ronnie enjoyed several hobbies. He had a love for Rodeo's from a young age and wagon-pulling horses that led him to participate in many parades. He and a friend often traveled with their teams as far as Arkansas and Kansas, camping along the way like the old days. He cherished the occasions when his family joined him on those trips. He continued his love of hunting and fishing, and enjoyed serving his community. A few of his favorites were serving as a member of the Oklahoma Wagon Racers, being an FFA booster, and serving on the Rogers County Fair Board. In later years Ronnie took up collecting knives and giving them to those he came in contact with.

In later years, Ronnie became a Christian and faithfully attended First Assembly of God Church in Foyil. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Watkins; son, Tommy Watkins, father-in-law, Hoover Mizer and daughter-in-law Amanda Padgett.

Survivors include Rhonda, his loving wife of 50 years; son Charles Joe Watkins and wife Andrea; mother Betty Watkins; brothers, Rickey Watkins and wife Susan, and Daryl Watkins; daughter-in-law Heather Watkins and partner Mark Thornton and their soon-to-be-born daughter Annalise; grandchildren, Duane Watkins and wife Jackie; Conner Watkins and wife Cheyenna; Cody Watkins and fiancee Abagail Doss; Westin Watkins, Joesiah Watkins, and Katelynn Sample; great-grandchildren Jazzy Watkins and Isaiah Penrod; mother-in-law Odessa Mizer; bonus daughter Brittany Quillman; bonus granddaughters Montana and Winter Quillman; as well as nephews Shane Watkins, Jack Watkins; and niece, Kyley Spear; great-niece and nephew Adrienne and Mickey Theall; a great-grandchild on the way, a host of friends; and all of Rhonda's family, which he considered his own.

In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made in his memory to the Chelsea FFA, Foyil  FFA, or Claremore FFA.