Grand-dad, Evadell, Kathy, Brian, Papaw, Paula and Gan
Leta in her home in Modesto, California.
"Leta" as Mildred Myers was known was born in Hill County, Texas on February 1,1902. Her parents were Buddy Elking Myers and Alice Susan Hughes. Leta was one of four children in the Myers Family: Cecil the oldest, the second child was an infant that died at birth, and then Leta and her sister Ernie. They were the second family for Buddy Myers. Leta married William Jackson Madison Powell Watkins at the age of 14. Bill and Leta traveled north to Michigan where Leta worked as a House Mother in a fraternity at Michigan State University. She was a terrific cook and everyone loved her cooking. By 1950, they had moved to Cottonwood, Arizona and owned the Cottonwood Cafe. Sometime later the Cafe was sold and Leta and Bill relocated to Payson as proprietors of the Mobil Gas Station and General Store. In 1959, Bill and Leta made the move to Phoenix and acquired the Automotive Center on Indian School Road and 36th Street. Leta worked at the White Angel Hospital (which was next to what is today Phoenix Children's Hospital). She was Head Dietician and once again in charge of all the meals! Many summers were spent in Cottonwood on their ranch riding horseback, feeding the "squab" and delivering the Arizona Republic at night. Leta was a spunky woman who lived to be 95!
Posts
