Kenneth Earl Watkins

Kenneth Earl Watkins, 77, El Dorado Springs, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2026, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, surrounded by family.

Ken was born Aug. 13, 1948, in Nevada, to Roy and Evelyn (Redburn) Watkins. He was raised on the family farm south of Dederick in Vernon County, where he enjoyed a simple country upbringing. As a boy, Ken dreamed of being a cowboy alongside his heroes John Wayne, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. He attended country school before graduating from El Dorado Springs High School.

A  gifted athlete, Ken   excelled in track and field, basketball and baseball. Because El Dorado Springs High School did not have a baseball program at the time, he played American Legion baseball during the summers. His remarkable achievements in shot put and discus remain among the most enduring records in school history.  During his senior year, Ken helped lead the Bulldogs to a 23–5 record and a district basketball championship alongside teammates and friends Rick Bogart, Gary Clifford, Bill Bishop, Randy Hendricks and Terry Wallace.

Ken accepted a basketball scholarship to Missouri State University (then Southwest Missouri State), but his exceptional talent on the baseball diamond soon became evident. He lettered four years in basketball and was a member of the Bears teams that finished as NCAA Division II national runners-up in 1967 and 1969. Under the guidance of Coach Bill Rowe, however, baseball became his greatest athletic pursuit.

As a pitcher, Ken developed into one of the finest players in school history. He earned All-Region honors and was named a two-time All-American in 1969 and 1970. During his collegiate career, he compiled a 21–4 record, including a perfect 9–0 season. He set several Missouri State pitching records, including career winning percentage (.840), single-season complete games, career complete games, single-season shutouts and career shutouts with some of the records still standing.

Following college, Ken was selected in the ninth round of the Major League Baseball draft and signed with the Boston Red Sox organization. Over seven seasons in professional baseball, he advanced to the AAA level and posted a career record of 40–31 with a 3.36 earned run average. His dream of reaching the major leagues was cut short after being struck in the elbow while batting during a AAA game.

While living in Florida, Ken met the love of his life, Carol Sisley, at a singles Bible study in West Palm Beach. She drove away with his heart when he watched her leave in her red Corvette. Their first date was a simple cup of coffee at a Perkins restaurant next door to the church, where they spent time talking about the Challenger space shuttle disaster that

Carol had witnessed from her front yard. Ken and Carol were married Dec. 17, 1988, in the same church where they met.

Together they built a family, adopting their daughter, April, in 1990 when she was eight weeks old, and their son, Kevin, in 1991 when he was just seven days old—on Ken’s birthday. In 1995, they returned to rural Missouri to be closer to family. Ken spent much of his working career with Murphy Farms in Vernon County and remained a resident of El Dorado Springs for the rest of his life.

Ken was a big guy with a big personality who deeply loved his family. He cherished time spent with his grandchildren and enjoyed family reunions and hunting trips on family farms. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend who will be missed by the Watkins and Redburn families.

Ken was a faithful member of Park Street Christian Church for more than 30 years. As a believer in Jesus Christ, he lived with the promise of eternal life and has now been reunited with his parents and sister in heaven.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Evelyn Watkins, and his sister, Janice O’Keefe.

Ken is survived by his beloved wife, Carol Watkins; his daughter, April Watkins Cannon of Red Bank, TN; his son, Kevin Watkins of El Dorado Springs and Branson, MO; three cherished grandchildren, Rain Cannon, Bailey Cannon, and Markus Cannon; three sisters, Barbara Hellmuth, Linda Brown and Debra Hubbard (Kenneth); as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members.

The family welcomes flowers and cards. Memorial contributions may also be made in Ken’s honor to Lighthouse Children’s Theatre of El Dorado Springs, an organization that has been deeply meaningful to his family for many years.

Ken’s legacy of faith, family and athletic excellence will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. Ken was inducted into the Missouri State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1983 and into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.

Services for Ken will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 27, at Park Street Christian Church, under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home. He will be laid to rest in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. There will be a visitation on Saturday from 10-11 a.m. at Park Street Christian Church.