John Taylor Watkins, Jr.

John Taylor Watkins, Jr., a resident of Ashford, passed away on Monday, June 13, 2022 at a local hospital. He was 87 years old.

A celebration of his life will be held at 4 pm on Friday, June 17, 2022 at Sunset Funeral Home Chapel. He will be laid to rest at 2 pm on Sunday, June 19, 2022 at Mascotte Cemetery, Mascotte, Florida. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 3-4 pm.

John was born on May 20, 1935 in Mascotte, Florida and lived the early years of his life there. He was a 1953 graduate of Groveland High School. He met and married Donna Marie Locke Chapman, and together they would have a daughter, Robin. John would later marry Jenelle Wilson Price, and together they would have three children, Mike, Wendy, and Kim. He would join the US Army and serve as an Air Traffic Controller. Following his discharge, he worked with Cairns Air Field as an Air Traffic Controller until his retirement in the late 1980's. He also had his realtor's license and owned and operated his company for several years. He loved to dance at the local VFW where his friends will always remember his favorite saying "Be Particular".

John was preceded in death by his sisters, Renee Gustin and Betty Fore.

Survivors include his son, Mike (Shannon) Watkins; his three daughters, Kim Bradshaw, Wendy (David) Oakley, and Robin (Tom) Nelis; his 15 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; his sister, Peggy Griffin; and his ten nieces and nephews.