Sheryl Ellen Watkins

Sheryl Ellen (Coulson) Watkins, 81, of Latimer, passed away Thursday, September 19, 2024, at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday, September 23, 2024, at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Latimer. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Latimer. Sheryl will be laid to rest at the Marion Center Cemetery in rural Latimer. Woodley Funeral Home of Hampton is caring for Sheryl and her family. Sheryl was born March 31, 1943, in Iowa City, the daughter of Clell and Pauline (Cole) Coulson. She attended school in Williamsburg, graduating in 1961. She married Jerald Watkins and together they had four children: Jamie, Jerry, Janelle and Jason. They lived in various places including Hartford, IA, Phoenix, AZ, Carlisle and Coulter, IA. Sheryl and Jerald later divorced. She met Harlan Muhlenbruck and became partners for more than 45 years. To say Harlan was the best thing that happened to her would be an understatement. Sheryl stayed home raising her kids until she felt a need to go back to school and become a hairdresser. She was adored by her “ladies” and had her shop in her house for several years. To keep her home life and work separate, she moved her shop uptown to Coulter and later Latimer. After a fire destroyed her shop, she went back to school again to become a medical assistant. Sheryl worked at MercyOne North Iowa as a phlebotomist and Blood Bank secretary. She retired from MercyOne but chose to work once again in the lab at Franklin General Hospital. Sheryl retired the second time and became a full-time farm hand. She was happiest doing things with Harlan such as fishing, gardening and canning, doing puzzles in the winter and most of all, helping with the crops driving the tractor until her health put that to an end. She was the best cook and still made lunches and suppers for Harlan and Jason. When the kids were young, Sheryl had a bean walking crew known as the “Hoe’ers and Hookers”. So many laughs were shared in the beanfields. She was a hard worker, doing more in one day than most people do in a week. She was “Granny” or “Gma Shirley” to her six grandkids and became “GiGi” to her very loved great-grandson. Other hobbies included quilting, birdwatching, especially the orioles and cardinals, and day long shopping trips with Janelle, as well as watching her Hawkeyes, Chiefs and Cardinals. Sheryl is survived by her partner Harlan Muhlenbruck; children Jamie Jasiota, Jerry (Margaret) Watkins, Janelle (Dana) Dohrmann and Jason (fiancé Heather) Watkins; grandchildren Chrysten (Kris) Dohrmann, Alex Dohrmann, Eli (Victoria) Dohrmann, Robert (Brittney) Watkins, Ryan (Ali) Watkins and Taylor (Codey) King; great-grandson Logan; sister-in-law Peggy Coulson Brandon; several nieces and nephews; and her special dog Josey. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister Sharon Parody; brothers Charlie and Dave Coulson; and loved rescue dog Callie.

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Sheryl Ellen Watkins

March 31, 1943 - September 19, 2024