Services were held Tuesday at Salas Brothers Funeral Home in Modesto, for Artie Mae Watkins, 95, of Modesto. She died Feb. 2, 2011 at English Oaks Convalescent Hospital in Modesto.
A graveside service was held at Lakewood Memorial Park.
Born Dec. 23, 1915 in Haskell, Okla., Artie was orphaned by the age of three. She came to California with relatives, settling in Dos Palos in the 1930s. With her first husband, Raymond Monteith, Artie raised four children as she worked as a seasonal cotton picker and serving as a cook/waitress. She married a second time in 1948 to Harold Markham and moved to rural Ceres on Service Road where they grew cantaloupe and watermelon. She raised two more children while working at Meal on the Bun on Tully Road and nights at Mark's Rest Home. Mrs. Watkins then purchased and operated Oaks Rest Home in Oakdale in 1955. She closed the rest home after being hired by the Hershey Plant when it opened in 1966. Artie worked at Hershey's for three and a half years until she was injured. Artie moved to Friendly Village in Modesto in 1975. She kept busy helping out at her daughter's daycare. After Harold died in 1979, she did other odd jobs. Artie married her third husband, Harold Watkins, in 1985 and they traveled the United States and Canada. She retired from the daycare in 1988. After his passing in 2004 Artie lived alone until a broken hip placed her in English Oaks in 2007.
She leaves behind five children, Harvey Monteith, Herman Monteith, Pamela DeCavit and Susan Beach, all of California, and David Markham of Montana; and 14 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Remembrances may be sent to Northern California, 1060 La Avenida St, Montain View, CA 94043.
-Ceres Courier/ February 9, 2011
A graveside service was held at Lakewood Memorial Park.
Born Dec. 23, 1915 in Haskell, Okla., Artie was orphaned by the age of three. She came to California with relatives, settling in Dos Palos in the 1930s. With her first husband, Raymond Monteith, Artie raised four children as she worked as a seasonal cotton picker and serving as a cook/waitress. She married a second time in 1948 to Harold Markham and moved to rural Ceres on Service Road where they grew cantaloupe and watermelon. She raised two more children while working at Meal on the Bun on Tully Road and nights at Mark's Rest Home. Mrs. Watkins then purchased and operated Oaks Rest Home in Oakdale in 1955. She closed the rest home after being hired by the Hershey Plant when it opened in 1966. Artie worked at Hershey's for three and a half years until she was injured. Artie moved to Friendly Village in Modesto in 1975. She kept busy helping out at her daughter's daycare. After Harold died in 1979, she did other odd jobs. Artie married her third husband, Harold Watkins, in 1985 and they traveled the United States and Canada. She retired from the daycare in 1988. After his passing in 2004 Artie lived alone until a broken hip placed her in English Oaks in 2007.
She leaves behind five children, Harvey Monteith, Herman Monteith, Pamela DeCavit and Susan Beach, all of California, and David Markham of Montana; and 14 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Remembrances may be sent to Northern California, 1060 La Avenida St, Montain View, CA 94043.
-Ceres Courier/ February 9, 2011
