Harlie R. Watkins

Harlie Rachel Watkins was born July 28, 1997, in Visalia, California, the daughter of Raymond Watkins, Jr. and Annette Halbur Watkins. She passed away Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at her home in Vail, Iowa, at the age of twenty, after enduring five heart surgeries during her life beginning at the age of six months, eleven months, three years, seventeen years and nineteen years, as well as receiving a pacemaker at age thirteen and numerous other surgeries.
Harlie received her education at St. Rose School, Denison Community Schools and graduated from Denison High School in 2016.
Harlie was an animal lover through and through, closest to her heart were her dogs and her chinchillas. Loving the outdoors she enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially the gun range with her brother. Saturday morning visits to the sale barn with her dad and sister would occasionally end up with a stray animal at home. One of her fondest memories was her visit to New Hampshire where she spent time with her feet in the ocean. She enjoyed Chicago Cubs baseball with her Grandpa and annual Iowa Cubs games with her family. Shopping and spending time with her dearest friend Louise Galbraith brought her great pleasure. She always had a special place in her heart for her Godfather, Uncle Ed.
Harlie was preceded in death by her grandfather, Raymond Watkins, Sr., step-grandmother Angel Watkins and uncle Dean Halbur. Survivors include: her parents, Ray and Annette Watkins of Vail, Iowa; one brother, Dean Watkins of Denison, Iowa; one sister, Martha Watkins and boyfriend Andrew Holmes of Carroll, Iowa; maternal grandparents, Larry and JoAnn Halbur of Denison, Iowa; paternal grandmother, Georgina Martin of Canada; three aunts and uncles: Brenda and Bennett Freese and their children, Mackenzie and Austin of Denison, Iowa ; Cindy and John Dinis and their children, Tanysha, Bevan, Philip and Lilian of Visalia, California; and Ed and Sara Halbur and their children, Addison and Gabriel of Des Moines, Iowa; other relatives and friends.