Lonnie L. Watkins, 78

Lonnie L. Watkins, 78, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, in Spokane, Wash., after a brief illness.

Lonnie was born Aug. 10, 1929, in Farris, Okla., to WIlliam Henry Watkins of Aurora, Mo., and Susie Mae Willis, of Webb City, Mo.

Lonnie left home when he was about 16 and has been on his own since.

He worked various jobs in different states. Lonnie was a part-time cook and co-owner of a restaurant in Arizona.

Later in life, he moved to Georgetown, Calif.

After a couple years, he met and married the former Wilma Smith on June 17, 1951, in Carson City, Nev.

Lonnie bought a place in Georgetown and got into the logging business.

He joined the Operators Engineer Union Local 3, where he worked construction with heavy equipment jobs and did land development.

In between his work, Lonnie made and manufactured fishing lures.

He also had a few honey bees. He lived there for about 24 years.

In the winter of 1975 and 1976, Lonnie moved to Porthill.

Lonnie didn't want to get into farming or logging. He wanted to get into something that we both could do, so he started out with a few honey bees. It became a full-time job.

He also made bee hives.

Lonnie is survived by his wife; daughter, Shirley Facha and her husband, Mike, of Moyie Springs; son, Henry Lee Watkins, and his wife, Karen, of Bonners Ferry; brother, Walter Watkins and his wife, Barbara, of Weiser; four grandsons; two great-granddaughters; a great-grandson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lonnie was proceeded in death by his parents; sisters Ella Mae Eddings, Lille Graham, Bertha Morrison and Goldie Roberts; and a brother, Carl Watkins.

Lonnie's love of his life was his wife, his garden, fishing and hunting.

His pride and joy were his bees and the place known as 'Kootenai Valley Bee Farm.'

Lonnie will be greatly missed by family and friends.