1950 at West Plains, MO. She entered into eternal rest on March 11, 2025, at the age of
seventy-four years.
She graduated from West Plains High School with the Class of 1968. Sally received her Bachelors
in Education with emphasis in math from Southwest Missouri State University. She obtained
her Masters of Education in 2001 from Southwest Baptist University. She was a teacher her
entire life, in the classroom and out of it. Sally was in the middle of her 50th year of teaching.
She taught mathematics at the West Plains Middle School and West Plains High School for 29
years until her retirement in 2004. Sally taught math courses at Missouri State University-West
Plains campus after her retirement. She taught middle school mathematics at Howell Valley R-1
School District, starting in 2012 until her passing. She served as a mentor to many future
educators. She didn’t just teach, she built relationships and connected with the students. She
was loved by so many past students. She was honored in 1994 by Who’s Who Among America’s
Teachers.
Sally served as a Member of the Friends of the Garnett Library. She was a board member of the
West Plains Public Library. Sally was a member of the PEO Chapter MC of West Plains, MO and
had served as a board member of the 37th Judicial CASA. She served as the secretary of the
Heart of the Ozarks Fair Board for over 25 years. She was awarded an Honorary State FFA
Degree for her work at the fairgrounds with the West Plains FFA chapter.
Sally is survived by her two children; Jay Watkins and wife Brandi of Corpus Christi, Texas, and
Tiffany Ruhland and husband Daniel of West Plains; five grandchildren Hannah Joice and husband
Drew, Keelee Watkins, Jacob Ruhland, Aaron Ruhland, and Shaizlee Watkins; one great grandchild
Darcy Jean Joice; three sisters Sue Ann Warden, Maple Grove, Minnesota, Sandy McNevin,
Wellington, Kansas, and Sunie Pace, West Plains; and several nieces and nephews.
Sally was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Marian McNevin, and one brother-in-law,
Bo Pace.
In lieu of lowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the West Plains Public Library or MSU-West Plains for a scholarship to be established at a later date.
A Celebration of Life of Sally Watkins will be held at the Historic Post Office Sunday, March 30,
2025, from 2pm-5pm.
Private Interment will be held at Oak Lawn Cemetery
