Dorothy Van Cox Watson, 91, of Memphis went peacefully to be with her Heavenly Father on October 5, 2022 after struggling through years of declining health. At last, she is rejoined in Heaven with her beloved husband, Gerry, of 55 years.
Dottie, retired homemaker, talented seamstress; she served the Lord and others throughout her life. She had a strong faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, was a member of First Evangelical Church for 66 years, serving the Bereaved and later Steering Committees for the Triple L’s Class (Living Long and Loving It) for seniors.
She was an avid reader, sports fan and watched Jeopardy. She was a talented seamstress for entire bridal parties specializing in remaking wedding gowns. She made her 3 daughters beautiful spring dresses in time for Easter morning, then, later prom and special occasion dresses, uniforms for a ROTC’s drill team, window treatments and table linens for their home and even made some men’s clothing.
She loved to swim and taught many how to swim. Was a lifeguard and got to swim with dolphins in the Gulf of Mississippi for free!!
She was a fantastic cook – everyone looked forward to her wonderful meals. She was known for her sharp wit, storytelling and words of encouragement.
She took a dare and sat on an alligator that was brought to school. She received ten cents for taking the dare and bought ice cream with the money.
During her college days at Belhaven College in Jackson, MS, she enjoyed playing basketball as a guard and was the Captain of the Green Team. She also enjoyed being on the syncretized swim team and singing in the Singing Christmas Tree. She was selected to join the “B” Club which was the most sought-after club on campus. She loved to dance at the various dances throughout the Delta.
She was always thankful for what she had received because she came from such modest means due to having been born in the Mississippi Delta during the Depression. She remembers picking cotton and working in her family’s Victory Garden. She also remembered having stamps to buy food and everything was rationed during World War II. She remembers the sense of pride everyone had in America during and post WWII.
She shook Elvis Presley’s hand…”he was SO handsome”, worked on Barry Goldwater’s Presidential campaign and worked at the Memphis Orpheum as an usher.
She is survived by her daughters and son--Martha Markham (Frank), Carole Wallace (Steve), Laura Evans Bell (Jim), Jerry Watson, Jr. (Lisa), 7 grandchildren: Matthew Wallace (Alyssa), Kristen Lang (Shawn), M. Drew, Wallace, Michael Evans (Bethany), Daniel Evans, Michelle Evans, Tyler Evans and 6 great-grandchildren: Hunter Kieren, Elayna Wallace, Adelyn Wallace, Seren Wallace, Elijah Evans and Porter Evans, and several nieces, nephew and cousins.
The Visitation is at 10:00 and the Funeral Service is at 11:00, on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN. Burial Service will be at 1:00 pm in the Rotunda of the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, 4000 Forest Hill Irene Rd., Memphis, TN.
In Lieu of flowers, please send memorials to First Evangelical Church, 735 Ridge Lake Blvd., Memphis, TN 38120 or The Gideon’s International.
