WATSON, G. Illene: 1912-2000

WATSON, BUCKLES, THOMPSON, WELLS

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 8/29/2013 at 09:53:11

The Ottumwa Courier
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2000

G. Illene Watson

KEOSAUQUA - G. Illene Watson, 88, of Keosauqua died Sept. 15, 2000, at Van Buren County Hospital in Keosauqua.

She was born Sept. 2, 1912, in Cantril to James Benton, Jr. and Olive A. Buckles Thompson. She married William Earl "Blondie" Watson on Nov. 30, 1933, in Fairfield. He died June 25, 1993.

Her mother died when she was a child and she was raised in Cantril by her father and an uncle and aunt, J.B. and Anna Thompson. She graduated from Cantril High School in 1930. She moved to Keosauqua many years ago.

She worked in Cantril and Mount Sterling grocery stores, Ottumwa and Abilene, Texas, Sears stores, in the Worsburgs store in Grand Rapids, Mich., and for 28 years in the Keosauqua drug store, retiring in 1977.

She was a lifetime member of the Cantril Christian Church, had attended Keosauqua Christian Church and was a 50-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary, first in Cantril and for many years in Beer-Barker Unit No. 113, Keosauqua.

She is survived by a brother, Pahl Thompson of Harrison, Ark.

She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, Benny Earl Watson, in infancy; a brother, Joseph Thompson; a sister Mary Evelyn Thompson, in infancy; and a half sister, Marcella Wells.

The body has been cremated. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. today at Pedrick Funeral Home in Keosauqua with the Rev. Jerry Caughron officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Cantril immediately following the service.

Memorials may be made to Cantril Christian Church or Keosauqua Senior Citizen.

(Transcribed for genealogy purposes only. I am of no relation.)