Henry M. “Mickey” Watson

Henry Malcolm “Mickey” Watson, of Quincy, Florida passed away January 3, 2019 at the age of 76. Born July 15, 1942 in Wacissa, Florida, the oldest child of Willie Albert and Ernestine Watson, he is survived by his wife, Roxanne Watson of Quincy; children, Rona Kay Watson Cradit of Tallahassee (Dennis), Michael Scott Watson (Ellen) of Quincy; a step-daughter Courtney Henuber (Dan) of Irvine, California; and five grandchildren, James, Sarah, Grace, Caroline, and Nathan. He also leaves a brother, Al Watson (Lois) of Tallahassee, Florida and a sister Deannie Roessler (Ronnie) of Tallahassee, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by a wife of 49 years, Dianne Keel Watson; his parents; and a sister, Jean Chesser.

Mickey was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and son. Although he enjoyed a long and distinguished law enforcement career, he always defined success in terms of maintaining close relationships with family and friends.

Mickey was a long-time resident of rural Gadsden County, but spent many years living in Jacksonville and Tallahassee. He was a graduate of Tallahassee’s Leon High School. His professional law enforcement career spanned 37 years. He served with the Tallahassee Police Department, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). While with the FHP, he worked as a state trooper before joining the Criminal Investigations Unit and spending several years working undercover operations across the state of Florida. In 1977, he graduated from the 108th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

He began his FDLE career in 1980 as the Special Agent in Charge of the Northwest Florida Regional Operations Bureau, later served in the Florida Criminal Intelligence Bureau, and upon his retirement from FDLE was the Special Agent in Charge of the Jacksonville Regional Operations Bureau. A few months after retiring from FDLE, he returned to public service as Inspector General of the DEP. He spent the last five years of his career as the Director of the Division of Law Enforcement at DEP where, among other duties, he directed the Florida Marine Patrol and Florida Park Patrol. He served with honor and integrity in each of those roles. He often expressed that he was humbled by the opportunity to serve in so many capacities and with so many fine law enforcement professionals.

He was an active member of New Hope Christian Center in Havana, Florida and the Soapstone Hunt Club. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, will be appreciated.