Clay Watkins Jr.

1951 - 2024

Clay Watkins, Jr.

Oct 19, 1951 - Nov 8, 2024

Clay Watkins Jr., 73, passed away on November 8, 2024. He was born on October 19, 1951, in LaPorte, IN, to Jessie and Clay Watkins. During his very early years, he spent some time in Kentucky with family and grandparents before returning to Indiana, where he began his education and graduated from CHS in 1969 at age 17. Clay worked multiple part-time jobs as a teenager, showing an early commitment to hard work.

At age 18, Clay began working for Bethlehem Steel Corporation. At 19, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and deployed to Vietnam. He served as a helicopter weapons subsystem repair and replacement specialist while also having door gunner duty. Clay took great pride in his service to his country.

After his discharge from the Army, he returned to "the world" and went back to his job at "Ma Beth" where he eventually spent 48 years in the #1 Roll Shop.

He met and married his wife, Chris (Wahl), and together, they raised two children, Shannon and Clay Allen. He said many times that his kids were the best thing he'd ever done. He and Chris were married for 50 years.

Throughout his life, Clay devoted time to causes that mattered to him. He held several positions with his union, Local 6787, and actively participated in United Way campaigns. Clay spent several years with the Veterans Memorial Committee raising funds and having the Veterans Memorial built at Porter Avenue and Highway 49 in Chesterton, IN. He believed strongly in honoring all veterans for their service.

A sports enthusiast, Clay enjoyed participating in B.H.A.A. leagues, especially in volleyball and golf. He ran the golf league for 22 years. In retirement, he and Chris enjoyed winters in their RV with their dogs, Tipper and Tillie, visiting their favorite spots like Biloxi, Mississippi, and Brooksville, Florida. They also traveled annually to Tennessee since the late 1980s, where Clay loved playing golf at Fairfield Glade.

Preceding Clay in death were his parents, his father-in-law, Ed Wahl, his grandson, Matthew Moore, and his best friend, Otis Redman, as well as his beloved Australian Shepherds, Muffin, Bridgette, and Sassy, who will now be with him again.

Clay is survived by his wife, Chris; daughter, Shannon (Josh) Arimura; son, Clay Allen (Misha) Watkins; grandchildren, David Moore, Emily Moore, and Erin (John) Hanel; great-granddaughters, Avery and Parker; sister, Pam Watkins; brother, Mike (Lori Truesdell) Watkins; mother-in-law, Ruth Wahl; sister-in-law, Lori Wahl; and brother-in-law, Dave Wahl.

Clay will be remembered for his dedication to family, his work, and his country.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024 at 3 p.m. at White-Love Funeral Home, 525 S 2nd St., Chesterton, IN. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Porter County Animal Shelter (www.portercountyanimalshelter.org) or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org).

Please share your wonderful memories with the family at: www.whitelovefuneralhome.com.