James "Hat" Erwin Watkins Sr.

Jim “Hat” Watkins
September 9, 1937 – August 24, 2020

James E. Watkins stepped into heaven on August 24, 2020, two weeks shy of his 83rd birthday. Jim was born on September 9, 1937, in Welsh, LA and was the 2nd eldest son of Bill and Bessie Mae Watkins. The family moved to Beaumont when he was a child and Jim graduated from South Park High School. He then attended Texas A&M University where he was a member of the Corps.
Jim lived a very full life, most of which was spent in the great outdoors. Some of his early adventures included riding bulls, roping cows, steer wrestling, and being a rodeo clown. He had a knack for telling jokes, playing tricks on friends, and making people laugh. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed trapping, hunting, fishing, and hunting alligators. For more than half of his life, Jim owned and operated a shrimpboat which was his livelihood. He and his crew would be 50-60 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico, fighting the elements for weeks at a time. He told stories of interesting sea creatures he’d pull up in his nets including sea turtles that he’d release. Jim said that when the sea turtle swam away, it would invariably look back at him as if to say thank you. He enjoyed the dolphins playing alongside the shrimpboat anxiously awaiting the nets to be pulled up so they could feast on the trash fish that were tossed aside. Jim often claimed that the reason he lived as long as he did was because of spending so much time in the Gulf away from pollution and breathing clean air. Cameron LA and Rockport TX were the main ports where he docked. Jim Watkins and the Silver Fox were well-known in these parts for being friendly, fair, and trustworthy in providing quality shrimp. When not at sea, Jim resided in Johnson’s Bayou, LA and later moved to Beaumont. One of his hobbies included raising wild cats including jaguars, cougars, and a Bengal tiger named Bessie.
Jim Watkins was a survivor! To say that he had some close calls would be an understatement. He survived encounters such as: a bull falling on him and breaking ribs that punctured a lung, a head-on collision with a tree, snake bites, a shrimpboat burning out from under him leaving him and his crew no choice but to jump into the shark-infested sea. Last but not least and against all odds, he beat the Coronavirus! Jim was keenly aware that the mighty Hand of God was protecting him throughout his life.
Jim was preceded in death by his son, Michael Terry Watkins, his beloved parents Bill and Bessie Mae Watkins, and his brothers Bill Watkins, Larry Watkins, Tom Watkins, and Terry Watkins.
Jim is survived by his son Jim Watkins, Jr, his daughter Sherry Whitman and her husband Mike, his daughter Patty Crawford and her husband Josh, his daughter Gale Elliot and her husband Mike, 12 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, 1 great great-grandchild, a sister Peggy and her husband Steve, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A Celebration of Life service for Mr. Watkins will be held at 4 PM, Thursday, September 17th, at Memorial Funeral Home, 1750 HW 12, in Vidor, TX, 77662.