Funeral services for Kathleen “Sue” Wilkins, 81, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 11, 2024 at the Wilson-Little Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at the Lexington Cemetery under the direction of the Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Purcell.
The family will be at the viewing on Friday, January 10, 2025 from 5-7 p.m. at the Wilson-Little Chapel.
Mrs. Wilkins passed away peacefully at home on January 5, 2025.
Sue Garrett was born on December 28, 1943 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. The youngest daughter born to Wesley Alton Garrett and Clara Mae (Hancock) Garrett.
Sue grew up in the Byars/Wayne area. She attended her early school years at Wayne Schools then moved to the Lexington area where she graduated from Lexington High School Class of 1962 and was also crowned basketball queen that year. She started her first job after high school as a telephone operator in Purcell.
Shortly after, she met Roy Hinkle in 1962 and married him in the spring of 1963 and they share two children, Cyndi and Royce Alan. Being a mom and taking care of family was her most important job. She was a mom figure to many in her life and that blessed her in many ways.
In 1975, Frances Longley gave her nephew, Ray Wilkins, a phone number for him to call and told him that she thought this lady at the hospital would be a good person to meet. As the story goes, Ray’s aunt played matchmaker and after a little convincing Ray finally worked up the courage to call her. The rest, as they say, is history. Ray and Sue were married on April 12, 1976 and their family became a bit larger. From this union, Sue gained another wonderful daughter, Robin, whom she welcomed lovingly and with open arms.
Ray and Sue were quite the team. They complimented each other’s strengths and were successful in many ventures. From opening a convenience store W & W Country Store east of Lexington to a western retail store Circle W Town and Ranch Wear in Purcell plus successful cattle ranchers for many years around Lexington.
Sue was not afraid of hard work and she was always up for any task at hand. Whether it was building miles of fence or working cattle or helping her kids and grandkids with homework and activities. Sue wasn’t afraid of a little dirt and hard work but always having fun with it.
In her free time, Sue enjoyed traveling the country and seeing as many sights as possible. She was up to learning new things such as painting, cake decorating, welding, computer classes and family history. She loved to be near the water, whether at the family ponds and fishing on her little boat, up in the mountains near a stream, or at beautiful beaches where she loved to dip her toes and pick up shells. Sue and Ray were fortunate to take many trips all over but her favorite trip was spending the summer in Alaska with Ray in their RV. She loved nature and being outside.
Her grandkids and great-grandkids brought her so much joy. She always looked forward to seeing them anytime she could. If you could put into words what people felt about Sue it would be a strong, feisty, hardworking, dedicated, God loving woman with a great sense of humor and she never met a stranger. She truly was a one-of-a-kind woman who will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Wesley and Clara Garrett; her younger brother, Wesley Alton Jr. and her two older sisters, Francis Fielder and Dorothy Murnan.
Sue is survived by her loving husband, Ray Wilkins; son, Alan Hinkle of Lexington; daughters, Cyndi Durden and husband, George, of Lexington and Robin Wilkins also of Lexington; six grandchildren, Mindy, Cody, Joseph, Kerstin, Jorde and Tiffani; 12 great-grandchildren, Jaden, Abel, Andy, Melody, Merritt, Posey, Mikael, Evie, Jax, Phoebe, Brecklen and Waco; her loving dog and companion, Ally and a host of other family and friends.
Online condolences may be made at www.wilsonlittle.com.