Harold Wayne Watson, 86, of Litchfield, died on Sunday, April 12, 2015, at his residence.
Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 15, at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield with the Rev. Steve Revisky, senior pastor of the Christian Church of Litchfield, officiating. Burial will follow at Clear Springs Cemetery, Hillsboro Township. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Mr. Watson was born in rural Hillsboro Township on Oct. 24, 1928, the seventh of the 11 children of Roy Lee and Ora Mae (Taulbee) Watson. He attended Enterprise country school.
He married Betty Washut, daughter of Joe and Sophia Washut, on Dec. 31, 1949; they later divorced. He married Melba Loew in January 1980; that marriage also ended in divorce. He married Colleen (Davis) Kleinik on Oct. 20, 1994 and she preceded him in death on July 31, 2002.
He is survived by his children Sandy Watson (Terry Cullen) of Burien, WA, Linda (Greg) Bernhardt of Raymond, Dennis (Marg) Watson of Normal, Rose (Jim) Schwartzkopf of Sesser, and Kenny Watson (partner Karen White) of Butler. Also surviving are grandchildren CJ Cullen of Seattle, WA, Tony (Ashley) Walch of Raymond, Mandy (Jason) Lemon of Butler, Jennifer (Fernando) Cornejo of Bloomington, Joe (Marit) Watson of O’Fallon, Tom Watson of Normal, Rachel Schwartzkopf of Sesser, and Kate (Craig) Phifer of Newburgh, IN; as well as step-grandchildren Amanda (Jason) Keesling of Robinson and Jenna (Brandon) Hamm of Hillsboro. Surviving great-grandchildren include Carmen, Lauren, and Kate Cornejo, Helen, Sofia, and Lydia Watson, Ryder and Rumer Lemon, Ayden Walch, and Calvin and Zoe Phifer; and step-great-grandchildren Brody and Madi Keesling, and Mila Hamm.
He is also survived by sisters Essie Collins and Norma Baker of Hillsboro, brothers Jesse (Dona) Watson of Swartz Creek, MI, and James (Lola) Watson of Hillsboro; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Thomas, at birth; siblings Ethel Lang, Dorothy Hemken, Ralph and Arlin Watson, Peggy Robinson, and Rose Watson at birth.
Mr. Watson was a grain and livestock farmer in Hillsboro and Butler Grove Township until he retired in 1991. He introduced the White Park breed of cattle to Montgomery County and served on both the state and national White Park boards of directors. Even after retiring, he continued to raise his registered White Park cattle until 1994. After retiring to Litchfield, he was an attendant at Super Wash until two weeks before his 85th birthday, but his dirt farmer passion continued to show through in his garden and flowers.
In 1961 the Hillsboro Jaycees named him the Outstanding Young Farmer of Montgomery County. He served as a director of the Montgomery County Farm Bureau, chair of the Shoal Creek Drainage District, chair of the Montgomery County Fair Board, and as a trustee of Clear Springs Cemetery. He was also a lifetime member of the A.T.A and the Knights of Columbus, a 30-year member of Litchfield Moose #1634, and a member of Woodsboro Community Club, school P.T.C., Montgomery County Farm Bureau, Prime Timers, and the Litchfield Senior Citizen's Club.
Memorials may be directed to Clear Springs Cemetery Association.
