Lisa (Burghardt) Watkins

The Phillips Ashley Valley Funeral Home is not handling the services for Lisa Watkins. We are placing the obituary on line as a courtesy to the family.

Lisa (Burghardt) Watkins, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on October 28, 2024 after courageously battling ovarian cancer for the past 7 years.

Born on February 3, 1955, she was the cherished daughter of Edward Lewis Burghardt and Vadrus Joyce Bodily. Lisa spent much of her childhood in Vernal, Utah, where she attended Uintah High School and embraced her role as a cheerleader, cultivating her vibrant spirit and love for life.

A lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lisa found joy and purpose in her faith. She married the love of her life, Greg Watkins, on September 12, 1975, in Vernal, Utah, and together, they built a beautiful life founded on love, laughter, and deep commitment.

She faced life's challenges with unwavering strength, teaching us the importance of resilience and faith. Her courage inspired everyone around her.

When her children were young, Lisa’s love for running was a defining part of her life. She could often be found training for a marathon, running with dedication and passion for many years until a knee replacement brought an end to her racing days. Nevertheless, her vibrant spirit and love for fitness left a lasting impression on her family and friends.

Lisa’s career with the Church spanned over three decades. She began her journey working in the welfare department and, through hard work and dedication, rose to become a Planning Analyst for the architects. Known for her devotion and meticulous care, Lisa loved her work and cherished her role in serving others.

Lisa’s family was her heart, and nothing meant more to her than ensuring each of them knew how deeply they were loved. She instilled in her children a commitment to helping those less fortunate, a value that has become a lasting blessing to everyone they encounter. Her legacy of compassion and kindness is woven into the lives of her family and all those she touched.

When her health necessitated her retirement, Lisa embraced this new chapter as an opportunity to spend precious time with her loved ones. Over the past six years, she cherished every moment spent with family, enjoying countless adventures, travel, and treasured time together.

Lisa is survived by her devoted husband, Greg; her children: Jacob B. (Trichelle), Luke (Nancy), Katey (Jim) Wells, Matthew, and Caleb (Tressa); and her siblings: Annette (Kenneth) Reynolds, Lydia (Brent) Eaton, Anita (Lon) Ashmed, Laurie Sorensen (James McDowell), Barbara (Robert) Madsen, Bonnie (Ron) Holt, Nancy Harrison, and Marvin (Sheila) Burghardt. She also leaves behind 23 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and one more on the way, each of whom brought immense joy to her life. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward Burghardt, and Vadrus and Duane Wall; her brother, Ed Burghardt; her son, Joshua Goldston Watkins; her daughter-in-law, Donna (Paxton) Watkins; and her granddaughter, Hunter Brittney Watkins.

Her legacy lives on through her children and grandchildren, who carry her values, kindness, and strength. We are forever grateful for the love she showed us.

Funeral Services for Lisa will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at 12:00pm with a viewing from 10:00 to 11:45 a.m. all at the LDS chapel, 1589 East Gentile Street, Layton, Utah. Interment will be at the West Point City Cemetery, 80 N 4000 W, West Point, Utah.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to those who cared for Lisa and supported us, especially Scott Samuelson and the Utah Cancer Center staff, as well as Shalee, Tami, Jen, Morgan, Veronica, Jaclyn, and the dedicated team at Quality Hospice. Your kindness helped us through this difficult time.