Betty Jean Keyes Watkins

Betty Jean Keyes Watkins, age 83, of Gulfport died Monday, December 31, 2007 in Gulfport. Mrs. Watkins was born in Denver, Co and was a resident of Gulfport for most of her life. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Gulfport and a former member of the Chamber of Commerce, the county club and the Gulfport Yacht Club. In 1938 Mrs. Watkins, father, Benjamin F. Keyes, established a partnership with Ted Dorman and opened Keyes-Dorman Motor Company in Gulfport. Following the death of Mr. Keyes in 1961 the dealership became Watkins Olds-Cadillac, Inc. Follwing the death of her husband, Robert L. Watkins, Jr., Mrs. Watkins became the owner of the dealership, the first woman to own and operate a dealership in the area and one of the first in the state. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Watkins, Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Barrie W. Murray of Falmouth, MA; a sister, Bonnie Keyes Wells of Isle of Palms, SC; two grandchildren, Whitney E. Murray of Manhatten, NY and John P. Murray of Chicago, IL; and a nephew Benjamin vanDerWel of Walnut Creek, CA. Visitation will be held Friday, January 4, 2008 from 5 until 7:00 p.m. at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport. The funeral service will be Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, Gulfport where friends may visit from 10:30 until the service. Interment will follow at Southern Memorial Park, Biloxi. The family prefers memorials to the Humane Society of South Mississippi, 2615 25th Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39501. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com