Lillian R. Watkins

A beautiful soul --- Lillian Reilly Watkins "Lilli", 76, of Cottonwood, AZ, died Jan 22nd, 2009 at St. Lukes Hospital in Tempe, AZ. The daughter of Phillip and Lillian Reilly. Lilli was born in San Francisco, CA, March 16th 1932, the daughter of Phillip and Lillian Reilly. As a child, her summers were spent at the Russian River with her family. These summer vacations became her fondest memories of her life. Lilli attended St. Agnes Grammar school, Notre Dame High School, San Francisco College for Women, and Loyola University, where she received her Masters Degree in Social Work. Working at Balboa High School in San Francisco as a counselor, Lilli mentored many inner-city teens. She passionately researched and taught AIDS awareness along with safe sex practices throughout the years. Lilli was especially proud of the fact there were no repeat pregnancies in her class for teen moms. In the late \u002780s, her last year of teaching, Lilli commuted back and forth from San Francisco to Jerome, AZ to operate the Palace Restaurant. Immediately drawn back to her calling of social work, she befriended numerous children, whose lives she greatly enriched and with whom she was a constant support throughout their lives. Lilli played a major role in founding the Verde Valley Sanctuary. She picketed for "Women in Black," standing in silent vigil to protest war, rape, ethnic cleansing and human rights abuses all over the world. Most recently, through Catholic Charities, she provided respite care for local foster kids. Lilli was a deeply spiritual person. Guided by Buddhist philosophy, she participated in a weekly meditation group, The Dharma Dolls, monthly gatherings lead by Erma Pound, and was also a member of the Sinandas Eagles Womens Group. She attended the young (17th) Karmapa\u0027s teachings in Colorado this past spring, and received blessings from his holiness the (14th) Dali Lama. Lilli also attended several retreats with the well known Vietnamese monk, her favorite teacher, Thich Naht Han. "Peace with every step". This year Lilli hosted her 14th annual New Years peace/meditation walk. These gatherings shall continue in her memory every new years day at noon. Lilli\u0027s many interests and hobbies included yoga, chigong, scuba diving, sailing, tennis, her dream group, crocheting, knitting, macrame, sewing, embroidery, Oriental painting, caligraphy, Chinese watercolor, playing her guitar and singing folk songs, acting (Old Town Players), riding her scooter, bridge tournaments and Sunday movie trips with her sister Terry Ann, who also resides in Cottonwood. She was an avid reader and master potter for at least fifty years. She was a world traveler and an intrepid dumpster diver. Collecting stray beings, supporting her "Godchildren" in all their endeavors and volunteering for anything and everything she believed in were her signature way of life. Among her many passions, her wild hat collection was tops, followed closely by her political interests and the election of President Obama. Survivors include her two sisters, Terry Ann Oostermeyer of Cottonwood AZ and Maggie Thomas of San Bruno, CA, numerous nieces and nephews, oodles of God Children. While Lilli had no maternal children, she was a mother in the best sense of the word to so many of us. A bright shining light in all our lives. Memorial and Public Gathering for friends and associates: Sunday, Feb. 15th 1-4 p.m., 203 South Airport Road. Cottonwood. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Lillian R. Watkins, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.

Lillian R. Watkins

January 22, 2009