Mr. Paul Kent Watkins

Paul Kent Watkins (1958-2015) Watkins, Paul Kent, 57, of St. Peters, Missouri passed away Sunday, November 1, 2015 at his home. Services: Visitation will be from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Saturday, December 5, 2015 followed by a Memorial Service at 11:30 a.m. at Church of the Shepherd, 1601 Woodstone, St. Charles, Missouri. Paul was preceded in death by his father, Rev. E.D. Watkins, Jr. Paul was born June 6, 1958 in Higginsville, Missouri. He’s the son of Rev. E.D. Watkins, Jr. (deceased) and Virginia Drake Watkins. Paul’s survivors are his mother, Virginia Watkins; brothers, Ed Watkins (Janet) of St. Peters, MO; Jim Watkins (Trish) of Baltimore, MD; Ron Watkins (Susan) of Ellisville, MO; Paulette Watkins Davidson (Todd) and son, Andrew Watkins of St. Louis, MO; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Paul was a graduate of Maplewood High School and attended Meramec Community College in St. Louis. He worked for Value City/Grandpa’s for 25 years until it closed in 2008. He moved to St. Peters in early 2010 and began work at Boone Center Inc. (BCI) that same year. The mission of BCI is to “To enrich the lives of adults with disabilities and their families by providing a choice of productive and fulfilling employment.” Paul was assigned to Cintas and his outstanding work resulted in him being hired by the company in 2011, where he worked until his death. BCI’s Director of Employment Services Becky Greening said of Paul, “Paul was always the "story" I use when I explain my role in coming to BCI and community employment. He has been the "opening slide" picture to introduce all of my presentations since we started focusing on community employment. He allowed me to continue to use his picture and tell his story of success! He was so proud of all of his accomplishments at work and with BCI. He was our walking billboard promoting what he had done through BCI and then his accomplishments at Cintas.” Paul was not defined by his limitations as proven by his lifetime passion to reach people with his guitar singing performances to coffee shops, churches and senior homes throughout the area. Paul studied guitar under the celebrated Mel Bay who was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the American Federation of Musicians. Paul was born with a limitation but he refused to let that limitation define him. He will be greatly missed by his family, his fellow workers as well as his Church of the Shepherd choir members, his former Salem Ladue Chapel Seekers and his current group, the Lighthouse. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Boone Center, Inc (BCI), 200 Trade Center Dr, St Peters, MO 63376.

Mr. Paul Kent Watkins

June 6, 1958 - November 1, 2015