Edith Watkins

Edith Marie (Lassen) Hoff Watkins, 92, of Sibley, MO went home peacefully in her sleep May 12, 2009, to be with her Lord and Saviour. She was born February 19, 1917 in Charleroi, PA to Alfred and Effie Lassen. She was the first of nine children. She lived and grew up in Lorain, OH and baptized as a member of The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1929. She finished 10 years of schooling and in 1935 she married a young man, Offutt Ross Hoff, and they raised four children, all of whom graduated from Vermilion High School. She was very faithful and active in church work, teaching Sunday School classes, Womens Leader, attending retreats, reunions, and counselor at youth camps. She was an outstanding Mother raising her children in that environment. Her life was the church. At the age of 54 she acquired her GED and received her High School Diploma from Lorain High School. She worked for several years at the Lucy Idol School with handicapped paraplegic children. In 1961 she married Charles Watkins. In 1976 she moved to Buckner, MO, the land of Zion. She is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ Zion’s Hope Restoration Branch. Here she offered her many gifts of music on the piano and choir. She was an avid reader of the Scriptures and a believer in the Hope of Zion. She was faithful to the end.
She was predeceased in death by her father Alfred Myron Lassen, her mother Effie Marie, two brothers: Robert and Richard Lassen, a daughter Barbara Louise Hoff, and a grandson Ross David Hoff. She is survived by three brothers and three sisters: Helen Tisler of Lorain, OH, Evelyn Lassen of Vermilion, OH, Alfred Lassen of Lorain, OH, Eugene Lassen of Sarasota, FL, Betty Lassen of Independence, MO, and Myron Lassen of Greeneville, TN. She is also survived by her four children: Ross Hoff and wife Carol of Vermilion, OH, Richard Hoff and wife Cindy of Independence, MO, David Hoff and wife Linda of Vermilion, OH, and Diana Hoff of Vermilion, OH. She was blessed with 15 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, May 18, 2009 atSpeaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th St., Independence. Visitation will begin one hour prior to services at 9:00 AM. Donations may be made to Church of Jesus Christ Zion’s Hope Restoration Branch, 36602 E. Stoenner Rd., Sibley, MO 64088.