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It is with heavy hearts that we announce our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend, Shirley Ann Watkins, passed away on Saturday, March 30, 2024 at Stanford Hospital. She was 79 years old. Shirley was born in Turlock, CA on January 7, 1945 to parents Clarence and Mina Vierra. Her early years were spent in Stevinson and Hilmar, CA. She attended schools in the area and graduated from Hilmar High School. On June 20, 1964, Shirley married the love of her life, Thomas L. Watkins in Reno, NV. Together they had two daughters, Tracy and Tawnya. She worked for PTAB as a supervisor state inspector for the processing tomato advisory board for nearly 30 years. Over those 30 years, she met many people who would become lifelong friends of hers. Shirley retired in 2007. One of Shirley’s favorite pastimes was playing bingo and taking trips to the casino for some fun with friends. When she was at home, she loved gardening and knitting. Her favorite thing of all time was to spend time with her family, especially going out to support her grandchildren at their academic and sporting events. In her younger years, Shirley belonged to several bowling leagues in which she was often the highest bowler on her team. Over the years, she coached her daughter’s youth softball team and enjoyed playing in softball games well into her 50s. Shirley was reunited in heaven with her husband of 59 years, Thomas L. Watkins; her parents, Clarence and Mina Vierra; her in-laws, Paul and Babe Watkins; her grandson, Robbie Merrifield; her brothers, Clarence Vierra and Frank Vierra; her sisters, Bernadine Vierra Monroe and Darlene Wagner; her brothers-in-law, Don Smith and Robert Watkins. She leaves behind her daughters, Tracy Watkins (Stacy) Pombo and Tawnya (Darin) Baptista; her grandchildren, D’nelle (Mike) Silveira, Kayli Perry (Tony) Garcia, Kourtni Pombo, Samantha (Bryce) Perry, and Anthony Baptista; her great-grandchildren, Liam Adams, Ryder Merrifield, Phoebe Silveira, Maverick Silveira, and Tony James Garcia; her brothers, Clifford (Sandy) Vierra, Bobby (Monica) Vierra, Jim Vierra, David (Rosemary) Vierra, Ronnie Vierra; her sister-in-law, Nancy Smith; as well as many nieces and nephews. Please consider making donates in honor of Shirley Ann Watkins to the MDS Foundation: MDS-foundation.org or the UCSF Carol Franc Buck Breast Cancer Center. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Turlock Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Turlock Funeral Home. Following the service, Shirley will be laid to rest at North Hilmar Cemetery.

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Shirley Ann Watkins

January 7, 1945 - March 30, 2024