ROY CHESTER WATKINS "HOPPY” was born March 13, 1917, in Tekamah, Nebraska to Roy and Alma (Boling) Watkins. He passed away Saturday, January 16, 2010 at the Golden Living Center in Tekamah at the age of 92 years, 10 months, 3 days.

Chet reminisced a lot about the Arizona Township east of Tekamah, where he lived and attended grade school and made many lifelong friends. He also lived in Ft. Calhoun, Nebraska, where he attended grade school and talked about playing at the old fort when he was a boy. He attended Tekamah High School.

Chet was a little bit of a wanderer and spent some time in Pocatello, Idaho, hiring out to a potato farmer. When he returned to Tekamah, he married Carolyn Farrens. To this union two daughters were born: Linda and Diane. Chet took up farming as his lifelong occupation, first hiring out to area farmer until he could afford to farm on his own.  

Chet enjoyed flying with Jim Simpson and Lloyd Olson and going up to Canada to visit Don and Lois Blodgett. He and Boyd Lewis, a cousin, took several trips together to Canada and also to Colorado. Chet enjoyed fishing and going to horse shows and antique machinery shows with good friend, Pat Johnson. He also liked going to the casinos in Iowa and farm sales. Chet loved having a big garden so he could give produce to everybody all over town. Probably his favorite thing to do was visit with the guys at the coffee shop. He was one of the originals of the Gas House Gang. He really missed his long-time and close friend, Tom Cox.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Billy Watkins;  infant sister, Alma;  stepbrothers, Linton and Marion Puffer.

Survivors include his daughters, Linda (Jack) Hovendick and Diane Halsey all of Tekamah; four grandsons, Jay (Tami) Hovendick of Herman, Kevin (Jill) Hovendick of Lakeland, Kim (Kimberly) Hovendick of Milford, Terry Hansen of Tekamah; twelve great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; stepbrother, Russell (Phyllis) Puffer of Herman; stepsister, Rosemond (Jim) Sell of Mondamin, Iowa; stepsisters-in-law, Ruth Puffer of Herman and Phyllis Puffer of Norfolk.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Tekamah.

VISITATION: Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 1 - 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 5 - 8 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah. Visitation will be held Wednesday at the church one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL: Tekamah Cemetery

MEMORIALS: Tekamah Fire and Rescue Squad and the Tekamah Public Library

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

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