Mrs. Jean K. Watkins, 92, most recently of Van Rensselaer Manor, passed away on October 8, 2025.

Mrs. Watkins was born in Troy, NY, on January 30, 1933, the daughter of Anthony and Helen Yokubait Korniat.

She graduated from Fort Plain Central High School in Fort Plain, NY, and then went on to graduate from the State University of New York at Oneonta.

For 36 years, she had been a teacher at Fort Plain Central School, her time being divided between 1st grade for 17 years and 4th grade for 19 years.

From 1956 until 2014, she lived on Route 163 in Fort Plain, where she and her husband maintained a large flower and vegetable garden.

She was a communicant of Our Lady of Hope, Catholic Church, Fort Plain, NY.

While her son was deployed, she sent packages to the troops and continued doing so even after he retired. She was also a member of the NYS Teachers Association.

On October 9, 1954, in Fort Plain, NY, she married Kenneth Watkins, who predeceased her on September 3, 2012.

She was predeceased in death by her parents and her brother-in-law, James "Jim" Shutter.

Surviving are her two sons, Kenneth Anthony Watkins, and Terry Watkins with his wife Anne; sisters Marion Shutter, and Ellen Sue Claussen, and brother Anthony “Tony” Korniat; grandchildren Danielle, Haleigh, and River.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, October 10th, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Our Lady of Hope, Reid Street, Fort Plain, NY 13339.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, October 9th, 2025, from 4:00-7:00 PM at the Fort Plain Funeral Home, 34 Center Street, Fort Plain, NY 13339.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516, ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or St Labre Indian School, 112 St Labre Way Campus Drive, Ashland, MT 59003.