Lindsey "Dee-Dee" Watkins

Pure joy. That is how you would describe Lindsey Bishop Watkins, or “Dee-Dee,” who passed away peacefully on March 23, 2023 at the age of 39. She was surrounded by her loving parents, younger sister, brother, sister-in-law, and aunt.

Lindsey was born on May 19th, 1983 in Des Moines, Iowa. Although her time on this earth was short, she lived her life to the fullest extent. In her earlier years, she loved family bike rides, watching her favorite movies, playing and watching sports. Lindsey also participated in Special Olympics where she earned many trophies and medals in track and bowling events. And, thanks to the advocacy work of family, educators and the support of the West Des Moines school district and Heartland Area Education Agency, Lindsey was the first student with significant disabilities to be integrated into the regular education classes. Lindsey and her family moved into the Johnston school district for junior high and high school, where she learned many job skills and became a cheerleader for the special needs basketball team, cheering on the Dragons at JHS.

More recently, she loved four-wheeling and scooter rides with her dad, singing in her local special needs choir, Sound Reach, attending Gigi’s Playhouse karaoke night, and The Ridge Ministries FUSE events which often included another favorite activity, dancing! She also enjoyed RV vacations with her family out West to go “jeeping” in the mountains and take road trips to Florida where they would enjoy the warm weather and boating activities.

Anyone who knew Lindsey knew how special she was. Her family often laughed at her antics and how she would play jokes in only the way she knew how. She kept everyone including her family, many friends, doctors and support teams, continually guessing, surprising them with how far she could go, even until her final moments, making kissy faces and smiling the slightest bit before closing her eyes.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to all those who worked with and thus enriched Lindsey’s life throughout the years: friends, caregivers, physicians, therapists (OT, PT, ST) and educators.

Lindsey is survived by her parents, Mark and Mary Watkins of Johnston; her siblings, Kelsea of Connecticut; Hunter (Katie) Watkins and niece, Charlie of Johnston; and Gina Watkins (Bobby) Coville and nephews, Zach and Reed of Port St Joe, Florida; along with her aunts, uncles and cousins.

Lindsey is preceded in death by both her maternal and paternal grandparents, her Uncle Rick and all her family’s pets.

A celebration of life will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 30, 2023 at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines with a reception to follow.

In recognition of Down Syndrome awareness, and because Lindsey loved her crazy socks, we invite you to wear yours to her service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Lindsey’s honor to Gigi's Playhouse and The Ridge Ministries (Fuse Program) of Ankeny, Iowa.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

Print