Betty Ann Watson

Betty Ann Watson, 85, of College Station, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2013 at the College Station Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at Memorial Funeral Chapel in College Station on Saturday, February 2 at 11am, with Reverend David Roland officiating.

Betty is survived by her husband of 62 years, Julian S. Watson; and her daughter, Mary Ann Nagyvary, both of College Station; her sons, David Watson of Chappaqua, N.Y., and Ronald Watson of Seattle, Wash.; her brothers, Lonnie Owen, Jr. of Easley, S.C., and Talmadge Owen, of Lutz, Fla.; as well as six grandchildren, Sara Watson of Providence, Rhode Island, Graham Watson of Santa Rosa, California, Katie Nagyvary of Cedar Park, Texas, Owen Watson of San Jose, California, Ann Watson of Seattle, Washington and Laura Watson of Seattle, Washington.

Betty was born in Attalla, Alabama to Lonnie and Mary (Harrison) Owen on December 30, 1927. As a young girl she and her family lived on a farm in Grand Saline, Texas. During World War II, her family moved back to Attalla, where she attended Etowah High School, graduating as valedictorian. She went on to earn a business college degree. Her father died when she was 19 years old.

Betty and Julian reared their family in Gadsden and Birmingham. In early adulthood, Betty was chiefly a mother and homemaker, very involved in her children’s lives through PTA, Girl Scout leadership, and violin and piano lessons. She loved to learn, so as her children were launched, she continued her education in business and education at Jefferson State and Montevallo Universities in Birmingham. She later worked as a secretary at Union Carbide, from which she retired in 1991. The

couple moved to College Station in 2006 to be near their daughter’s family.

Throughout her life Betty was always active in her community churches, teaching children’s classes, singing in the choir, and volunteering in the church library. She was a Meals-on-Wheels volunteer for 15 years. She loved words (especially crossword puzzles and Scrabble), the outdoors, swimming, traveling, cooking, Bible study, gardening, sewing, reading, and nurturing children. As her hearing declined she loved staying in touch with friends on the internet.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the many medical professionals and caregivers for their loving care in her final days.

Memorials gifts may be sent to Missionary Ventues, P.O. Box 593550, Orlando, Florida 32809, In Memory of Betty Watson or at their website at www.mvi.org