Devere M. Watkins

Our wonderful father, Devere (De) Watkins, passed peacefully from this life on April 21, 2026, at the age of 91, supported by his loving children. He is now joyfully reunited with his beloved wife, Eda Rae Anderson, who preceded him in death in 2019.

De was born May 24, 1934, to Devern and Anne Watkins in Box Elder County and was raised in Tremonton, Utah. He was the oldest of three children, with sisters Elaine and Dana. De spent his early years helping on the family farm and with extended family at the dairy where he learned an incredible work ethic and a deep appreciation for family relationships, leading to lifelong interactions with his cousins. He graduated from Bear River High School and subsequently Utah State University, where he met the love of his life, Eda Rae Anderson. They were married on July 2, 1959, in the Logan Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. De and Eda spent their early married years living in several states, and moved as far as London, England as he served in the Air Force. They settled in northern Utah, raising their five children in Bountiful and Ogden, with a final move to Kaysville as empty nesters.

De had many passions, most of which were reading and learning. He was an avid reader and had a large library that matched his extensive vocabulary. He also enjoyed playing golf with friends, family and work colleagues as well as watching tennis with Eda. During the winter he loved snow skiing and was a graceful skier, teaching lessons during his college years and then to all his children. De continued to snow ski until he was 80. He had a beautiful and creative soul, expressing his heart and experiences through poetry. De was an accomplished businessman, spending many years as an entrepreneur, eventually leveraging his experience to be successful in the banking industry, where he spent over twenty years of his career. De always valued the friendships he made during his career and continued to have lunch with his banking group until his health precluded him from attending.

Above all his accomplishments and hobbies, De was defined by his unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. He was a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving his neighbors whenever he could. De served a mission for his church in Eastern Canada and also served a mission with Eda in St. George, Utah. His faith was the compass by which he lived his life, bringing him immense peace, guiding his everyday actions, and leaving a legacy of spiritual strength for his family.

As a father, he was a beloved and respected patriarch. He was the proud father of five children and is survived by four of them: Cristy (Jeff), Paula (Dwight), David (Tasha), and Mark (Carrie). He was preceded in death by his daughter, Andrea. He leaves a legacy for his 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, all of whom brought him great joy.

Services will be held Saturday, April 25 at 11:00 AM at the Kaysville 17th Ward Chapel, located at 875 East 200 North, Kaysville, Utah. There will be a viewing from 9:45 to 10:45 AM at that same location on the day of the services. Interment will be at the Brigham City Cemetery.

We thank all caregivers at Whisper Cove who were so kind and loving to De during his final weeks. Special thanks to Dr. Nikil Moodabagil and his staff and the Infusion Team at McKay Dee Hospital for years of kind and professional care. We also want to thank De’s incredible friends and neighbors who provided invaluable support to him over the years since Eda’s passing.