Obituary

Mitchel L. Watkins, 43, Ellsworth, father to Shannon and Michele Goodnight, both of Burrton, died Saturday, July 13, 1996 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, Wichita. He was born December 14, 1952 at Newton, the son of Robert L. and Shirley Watkins. A 1970 graduate of Newton High School, he was employed as a cross-country tractor trailer driver for many years. In 1981, he became a sheriff's reserve officer in Wichita. He attended Sedgwick County Law Enforcement Training School, graduating in 1990. He was a detention officer for Sedgwick County, then moved to Eureka, where he became a Greenwood County deputy Sheriff. He graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Center in Hutchinson in February 1992. He was a deputy sheriff in Ness City for a time, and in Ellsworth until May 1996.

Other survivors: mother and stepfather, Shirley and Norman Lunn, Silver City, New Mexico; father and stepmotheer, Robert and Leota Watkins, Wichita; brother, Jeffrey P. Watkins, College Station, Texas.

Services wer held Tuesday, July 16 at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery, Newton. Memorials to Hospice.