Bijou Frances Looper Watkins

Bijou Frances Looper Watkins, 87, died Thursday, July 30, 2009 at her residence at The Bridge in Columbia. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Oakes & Nichols in Columbia with Rev. Elmer Crosby officiating. Graveside services will be conducted Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at Overton County Memorial Gardens in Livingston with Rev. Donald Cobb officiating. The family will visit with friends at graveside. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. The Overton County native was the daughter of the late Roy Maurice Looper and Mable Clare Speck Looper. She was a graduate of Livingston Academy. After earning a teaching certificate from Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, she returned to Livingston Academy to teach for several years before she began a career in banking. Mrs. Watkins was associated with First Tennessee Bank in Chattanooga for 47 years, serving as Vice President at her retirement in 1985. She was a long-time active member of Ooltewah Baptist Church. Survivors include her sister-in-law, Carolyn J. Taylor Looper of Columbia; nieces, Cindy Looper Kollstedt of Franklin and Martha Looper Meservy of Columbia; nephew, Michael Looper of Columbia; several other nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews; and devoted caregiver-Shirley Pierce of Lewisburg. She was preceded in death by her husband, Addison S. Watkins, whom she married December 19, 1947; brother, Bill G. Looper of Columbia and niece, Deborah Looper Hartman of Naples, Florida. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Directors are assisting the family with arrangements.