Marilyn "Becky" Watts

Marilyn “Becky” Watts of Emporia, died on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at Homestead of Emporia. She was 83.

Becky was born on April 19, 1942, in Wellington, Kansas, the daughter of John and Madeline Graves Welch. She married Gary Watts on August 2, 1964, in Conway Springs, Kansas.

She is survived by her husband, Gary Watts of Emporia; son, Dave (Jelinda) Watts of Emporia; Kelli (Eric) Harpel of Springfield, Missouri; granddaughter, McKenzi Harpel of Springfield, Missouri. She is preceded in death by her parents, and sister, Sue Welch Miller.

Becky had a love for education. She came to Emporia in 1960 to attend Emporia State Teachers College where she graduated with a Bachelors of Education and later a Masters of Education. She began her teaching career at Valley Star School where she taught multiple grades in a very small, rural school house. After taking a sabbatical while Kelli and Dave were young, she returned to teach kindergarten at William Allen White School and then Mary Herbert School. After retiring from teaching in the public schools, she took a position as the Education Director for the Kansas Farmer’s Union. It was in this position that she traveled across Kansas and led summer programs to educate kids’ about farming. She was an advocate for family farming and loved teaching, so this was the perfect role for her.

Becky met Gary during college while she was living with her future sister in law, Ellen Watts, along with several other women that became life long friends. They were married for 61 years. Becky supported Gary in his farming endeavors as logistics coordinator (transporting Gary and others from one field to another), traveling executive chef (many meals served in the field out of the back of her vehicle) and livestock maintenance executive (made sure that pets and 4-H projects were fed and cared for). She loved the farmer and the farm! One of her last questions was “How much did it rain?” Answer: “60 hundreds”. Response: “That will make your dad happy.”

Becky was a loving mom to Kelli and Dave. She never missed an elementary music concert, 4-H show, volleyball game, cheerleading event or wrestling match. She always made sure that they had what they needed and supported them unconditionally. She also had many “adopted” children that called her mom and were just as much of the family as her own. She was excited to have her granddaughter, McKenzi, on the farm. She would give her an egg carton and tell her to go outside and find 12 treasures which consisted of dandy lions, rocks, feathers etc. McKenzi loved being her sous chef and logistics coordinator assistant.

Becky was a member of the Saffordville United Methodist Church. She was active in the choir, filled in as a lay pastor and led vacation bible school programs. She was active with the church congregation and prepared and coordinated many family meals for funerals, hosted bridal and baby showers and checked in with those that couldn’t make it to Sunday services. She also served on the United Methodist State Board.

Becky was a member of the Saffordville Order of the Eastern Star and later the Emporia Order of the Eastern Star where she was a Worthy Matron numerous times. Her favorite role was that of Chaplin.

Cremation is planned with a visitation from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday, January 19, 2026, at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home with a private graveside service at Grandview Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions to the Saffordville United Methodist Church can be sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, P.O. Box 175, Emporia, Kansas 66801.