Mary Watts Obituary
Mary (Kiker) Watts will be laid to rest in Kenna, NM, 388 US Highway 70, south of Kenna. Funeral services will take place at 10:00 AM, Friday, December 1st, 2023, at First Baptist Church of Portales, 100 S Ave C, Portales, NM 88130. Burial will follow services.
Pallbearers include Will Watts, Blayne Bricker, Tyler Watts, Cody Watts, Kalob Nichols, Ryan Boddy and Dalton Binkley. Honorary Pallbearers include Mike Howard, Bobby Fitzgerald, Charles Bennett and John Hayden McGill.
Mary (Kiker) Watts went to join her Savior on November 26, born 1931 in Amarillo, Texas. She graduated from Portales High School and Eastern New Mexico University with a Master’s Degree in Education. She married her high school sweetheart Marvin Watts in July 1952. Mary became the mother of three fractious sons. She raised them while teaching school first in Roswell and then Carlsbad for over 30 years. Mary never missed a day of work, it was a matter of principle with her.
The family diversified back into ranching in 1970. Mary was indispensable horseback in the pasture while still cooking for the crew. She cared for and named hundreds of horses through the years. Always protective of her livestock, any truck driver overusing a cattle prod got a taste of his own medicine.
Constantly involved in conservative Republican politics, Marvin was elected as NM State Senator in District 34 in 1984, becoming the first Republican to reach that office. Mary was always a gracious and supportive senator’s wife.
Mary was a devoted Baptist Sunday School teacher that loved sharing the word with all the young people. She loved singing in the choir and later along with the congregation. She was rarely absent from church on Sunday mornings, even when a wheel chair was required. Reading the Bible cover to cover on weekdays in case she had missed something from the Sunday services.
Mary was preceded in death by husband Marvin Watts, her parents and one granddaughter. Survivors include Lee Watts and Nancy, Mark Watts and Connie, Wesley Watts and Vickie, Taryn Watts, Kristin Watts Nichols and Josh, Will Watts and Britney, Tyler Watts and Lindsay, Cody Watts, Michele Durdee and Jon, Savanna Bricker, Blayne Bricker, Mikayla Bricker, Bentley Watts, Baylee Watts, Katie Watts, Blair Watts, Kalob Nichols, Kyle Nichols and Queeni.
We will see her in heaven whipping and spurring her horse Snuffy Wolf, riding along with Marvin and Jesus by the Jordan River.
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