William Lee Watkins

William (Bill) Lee Watkins born Jan. 17, 1953 in Edmond, OK to William Howard Watkins and Dorothy Sue DeGraffenreid, passed away Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 in his Alamogordo home. 

Nadine Peterson, the love of his life, and Bill were just shy of celebrating  33 years together.  They have lived in several places beginning in Tooele, UT to McAlister, OK then overseas to Rammstein Germany and placed roots in Alamogordo for 23 years enjoying no snow except for this past month. 

Bill is father to his children: Traci Scholfield from Ogden, UT,  Melanie Love, Brandi and Michael Simental from South Bend, IN.  He has 11 grandchildren: 8 grandsons:  Santiago, Felix, Max, Ethan, Theo, Kohner, Paityn, Johnny and 3 granddaughters:  Sammie, Maddie, and Lily who he adored. 

Bill has always enjoyed learning, reading and sharing.  At 15 he worked side by side with his dad in the oil fields of Eastern NM. 

He received a draft number of 9 and enlisted in the Army in the medical field.  He served at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Maryland. 

At the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP) he gained a degree in Geology and then spent two years of schooling in Savannah, IL to become a Quality Assurance Specialist Ammunition Surveillance or "QUASAS" until living out his retirement dreams of doing nothing in 2017.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Dorothy Watkins, and many other extended family members. 

The memorial service will be conducted by the Sacramento Mountain Ward at 1800 23rd St., Alamogordo, NM at 1:00 PM Thursday, March 5th, 2026.  

The Watkins family has entrusted their loved one's care to Scenic Chapel to direct the Memorial Service. 

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