Dorothy "Frankie" Watkins, born December 26, 1939, opened wide her eyes at 2:10pm on May 30, 2017 to see Jesus welcome her with open arms. Surrounded by her three living children, Les, Lisa, and Lloyd, Frankie slipped away from Southcrest Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Heaven where she was greeted by her first-born son Aaron Glen, who was waiting to run into his mother's arms and tell her how he has enjoyed watching her be an amazing mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Frankie was held lovingly during her last few moments of her earthbound time by her only sister Lilian and devoted husband Virgil. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren also huddled in the small room. Daughters-in-law Renee and Patricia sang a hymn to her as she passed. Anyone looking around the room would have been overwhelmed by admiration for the legacy of strength and peace left by this feisty 77-year-old woman.

After suffering complications from hip surgery, Frankie had the privilege of seeing all her grandkids (Tara, Chad, Cole, Lawren, Ashley, Preslie, and Palmer) and great-grandkids (Kaisley, Hadley, and Swayzee) together at once. They laughed with her and filled her in on all the exciting things they were doing in their lives, which were all direct results of the gifts she had given them over the years. These gifts include the following: great parents, daily prayer, talent, honesty, humor, food, sass, intelligence, humility and above all, a deep faith in God. (The combination of these is rare, so it is not advised that people attempt to match it). When she saw her great-grandchildren smile and reach for her, color flooded Frankie's cheeks. She began dancing with Jesus six days later.

Frankie loved to dance! It was her dancing that caught the eye of husband Virgil in 1953. No one can say for sure if Frankie always danced outside her house or if she just turned it on when she saw Virgil walking by, but we do know it worked and they were married a few months later on June 5, 1954. Virgil and Frankie were a team for Christ all their lives together. He invited the people in the front door and Frankie fed them a homecooked meal. After the open hospitality and prayer, people knew they had been in the presence of God. Frankie prayed devotedly every day for anyone she met. She began her professional journey as a cook for children at Sequoyah elementary school where the head chef was so impressed with her southern cream gravy that she changed the school's recipe. She loved expressing joy for kids through cooking. After Sequoyah, she made meals for middle schoolers at Central junior high and later worked as the head chef at Booker T. Washington high school. Later, as supervisor of production at Kamco, she kept her employees entertained on long days by telling jokes and doing impersonations. Food, for Frankie, was love. Resilience and determination was her quiet mission. Whether praying for someone's soul or facing a seemingly impossible situation, Frankie did not see giving up as an option. Perhaps her most miraculous triumph came in the latter half of her life when she went to battle with bipolar disease. Frankie pushed through the exhaustive combat and emerged on the other side to sing the praises of Jesus and His faithfulness! She was a silent warrior, crusading until she reached the goal God put in front of her.

Like the frogs she collected, her voice was unique to her and could be heard over a chorus of other sounds when the world needed it. It pierced through the mire of people's lives to speak words of hope and empowerment. She was beloved by all she encountered. While she will be missed here on Earth, her presence in Heaven reminds us of the truth of Ecclesiastes 3:11: "He has set eternity in the hearts of men." In true Frankie-style, she quietly beat many to the goal that God has set in the heart of each of us. Now, she dances and we rejoice in her victory.

There will be viewing 12 - 8 pm with a family visitation from 6 -7 pm Thursday 6/1 at Moore Funeral Home - Southlawn Chapel 9350 E. 51st St. Tulsa, OK
Service will be at 2pm Friday 6/2 at Regency Park Nazarene - 8707 E. 51st St. Tulsa, OK