Eleanor Carol Watkins, 89, of Morganton, N.C., formerly of Bourbon, passed away on Thursday, May 25, 2017.

She was born on Jan. 12, 1928, in Indiana, to the late Willfred Bailey and Helen Pearson Bailey. She worked as a clerk for her late husband, Ernest Eugene Watkins, who served as a township trustee. She was also employed as a secretary for Bourbon Elementary School. She retired after 17 years from OEC/BioMet in Indiana. Mrs. Watkins moved to North Carolina in 2010 after living in Indiana for 80 years. She was a loving mother and grandmother and enjoyed cooking, spending time with her coffee ladies and her Red Hat group. She was married for 69 years and was devoted to her husband and to God. For the past nine years, she attended Burkemont Baptist Church. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Bill Bailey.

Mrs. Watkins is survived by her daughters, Ernie Ann Metheny and husband, Allen of Avon Park, Fla.; Melody Carol Sellers and husband, Eddie of Morganton; son, Fredrick Dale Watkins and wife, Leigh of Warsaw; grandchildren, Eric Metheny and wife, Marsha, Nikki Griffin and husband, Randy, Andrea Frye and husband, Jason, Autumn Carrera, Erica Munyaneza and husband, Amon, Jessica Marshall and husband, John; twelve great-grandchildren; brothers, Mike Bailey and Les Bailey; sisters, Mary Ooley and Louise Reichert.

The family will also receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at Country Church in Bourbon. The service will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, June 1, 2017 at the Country Church with the Rev. David Gould officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Bourbon.

Memorial contributions may be made to Catawba Regional Hospice, 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, NC 28658.

Deaton-Clemens Funeral Home is privileged to be entrusted in arranging the services.