Karen Watkins

SHREVEPORT, LA - A celebration of life will be held for Karen Gaye Heinsohn Watkins, 67, at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 21, 2018, at Rose-Neath on Airline Drive, Bossier City. Karen was born in Shreveport, on April 21, 1951, to Verdun Leo and Susie Annie Lee Wallace Heinsohn and passed away on May 12, 2018. She graduated from C. E. Byrd High School in 1969 as a Betty Crocker award winner, briefly attended LSU-S, and worked and retired at Western Electric/AT&T Technologies/Lucent Technologies/Avaya. Karen later held short-term positions as a house mother for foster group homes and a runner for Delta Pathology Group, LLC. Karen was a long-time member of Parkview Baptist Church and Trinity Heights Baptist Church where she served as a teacher for children's Sunday School and Missionary Training classes. She enjoyed participating locally in Presidential political campaigns and in any capacity that she could be of help. As a mother, she poured all of herself into her daughter and son and created children who far surpassed her dreams and prayers for their ability to be successful outside of her nurturing nest. She never turned down an opportunity to organize a party and toilet paper rolling event with her daughter or help provide snacks, meals, support, and a comfortable place to stay for her son's Boy Scout Troup and later college friends. She always cooked for an army with hopes that her table would be filled with children, friends, conversation, and plans for the future. In retirement, Karen felt invigorated through spontaneous opportunities that allowed her to be a part of special moments, serve her fellowman, and participate in her children's young adult lives. On Easter Sunday 2009 at the age of 57, Karen experienced a stroke as the result of atrial fibrillation and lived with paralysis on her left side for the last 9 years. Although bound to a bed in a nursing home and enduring a list of constant complications, her sustained ability to think and speak allowed Karen to be as much involved in the life of her family and friends as she could be from her bed and through a cell phone. Often times, she found joy through being "Memaw" and planning for her granddaughter, Annabelle Marie, to visit as she collected bags of chips, individually wrapped baked goods, and small paper cups through which her medicines were dispensed. Memaw enjoyed having her walls filled with pictures of Annabelle and always kept a plan for what she would need. Karen leaves a legacy and example to fight and persist to the bitter end for that which is good, right, fair, and honest. Karen was preceded in death by her husband, Phillip Lewis Watkins; her parents; brother, Larry Glynn Heinsohn and sister-in-law, Marilyn; and brother, Stanley Verdun Heinsohn. Left to honor her memory are her daughter, Angela Gaye Watkins Kimbrough, husband William, and daughter Annabelle Marie; son Jeffrey Lewis Watkins, wife Heather, and daughters Natalie and Kathryn; sister, Sue Heinsohn Brossett and husband Larry; nieces: Mary Ann Heinsohn; Shannon Brossett Holley, husband Kendall, and children Courtlyn, Mackenzie, Keaton, and Levi; nephews: Terry Don Heinsohn, wife Rhonda, and children Jarrod and wife Kristin; Taylor and wife Michelle; and Dalton; Chad Carroll Brossett, wife Edith, and children Jack, Graham, and Lily. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to C. E. Byrd High School Alumni Association, Attn: Charles Allen, 3201 Line Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71104; phone: (318) 990-BYRD (2973); email: byrdhighalumni@gmail.com