70 year old Vici resident, Benny Joe Watkins departed this life, at his home, on June 25, 2010. Benny was born to Gilbert Matthieu and Hettie Ruth Breed Watkins on July 20, 1939 in DeWitt, AR.

Benny's childhood days were spent in and around the delta farm ground of southeastern Arkansas. He attended DeWitt Elementary and Gillett High School. He then married Bobbie Dean Mitchell on September 25, 1957 at Bernice Gray's home in DeWitt. The couple resided in Tichnor, AR for one year and then moved to Wichita, KS where, in 1958, he and Bobbie graduated from high school. They were blessed with seven children; Betty Jo, Cynthia Lynn, Benny Eugene, Robert Dewayne, Bart Shane, Melanie Dawn, and Bobbie DeSha. The family moved to Brinkley, AR in 1968 where the couple owned and operated a full service Exxon station. In 1978, they moved to Atkins, AR and operated their second Exxon station for 3 years before moving to Vici, OK in 1981. Benny went to work in the oilfield for a time before taking a job with Wonder Bread. He later worked for Dewey County District 3 and then Prestige Coffee Company. Benny suffered a great loss on May 5, 1996 with the passing of his wife Bobbie after 39 years of marriage.

On May 29, 1999 Benny married Loretta Joyce Rodgers at Vici, OK. With this union Benny had the privilege of helping Joyce raise her two youngest daughters, Summer and JoVanna. They made their home in Vici and Benny went to work for Durango Trucking then Bill Williamson Trucking before going into the retail business operating Tom's Chips. He also worked for a time in the local school districts of Woodward, Vici, and Seiling. He worked on occasion for Watkins Dirt Service and he most recently worked for J & R Transports, which he shared with many, was his favorite job. Together Benny and Joyce enjoyed attending church, traveling, and going to music events. They spent a lot of their time following the various activities of all their grandchildren.

On August 3, 1960 Benny turned his life over to serving the Lord. He was baptized into The General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn at Wichita, KS. He began preaching very soon after that. He helped establish several new churches. Benny believed firmly in the evangelistic work and went into many cities preaching the Word including the countries of Mexico and Belize in Central America. Most recently he had began having church in Canyon, TX near Amarillo. He was always willing to help the small bodies of brethren in near communities. He assembled faithfully at the Woodward Church of the Firstborn.

Benny was preceded in death by his wife, Bobbie Watkins; parents, Gilbert Watkins and Ruth Smith; in-laws, Paul and Doris Mitchell; daughter-in-law, Christy Watkins; sisters, Betty Lou Watkins and Edna Capps; grandchildren, Brock Watkins, Brice Reaves, and Charity Watkins.

He is survived by his wife of the home in Vici, Joyce; four daughters, Betty Thomas and husband Rob of Farmington, MO, Cyndi Higgins and husband Doug of Atkins, AR, Melanie McCracken and husband Shannon of Vici, OK, Sha Reaves and husband Gary of Woodward, OK; three sons, Benny E. Watkins and wife Jill of Vici, OK, Robert Watkins and wife Melissa of Tulsa, OK, and Bart Watkins and wife Kimberly of Vici, OK; six step-children, JoVanna Pace and husband Adam of Vici, OK, Summer McGaha and husband Brad of Vici, OK, Josh Rodgers of Vici, OK, Justin Rodgers of Oklahoma City, OK, Jenny Idlett and husband Dennis of Lexington, OK, and Sherry McGraw and husband Brent of Haysville, KS; brothers, Bud Watkins and Sue of Wichita, KS and Donnie Smith of Wichita, KS; brothers-in-law, Barney Capps of Wichita, KS, Edward Mitchell and wife Shirley of DeWitt, AR; sisters-in-law, Pauline McCallie, Edna Davis, Martha Jackson and husband Skippy all of DeWitt, AR, and Mary Clawson and husband Billy of Gillett, AR; Joyce's family; mother-in-law, Naomi Farrow, sisters-in-law, Neoma Combs of Cushing, OK, Patsy Tolland of Lexington, OK, Trella Idlett and husband Allen of Lexington, OK; brothers-in-law, Carl Farrow and wife Sue of Cushing, OK, Raymond Farrow and wife Crystal of DeWitt, AR; 38 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, other family and a host of friends.