Funeral services for Mary E. Watson, also known as Whiz by many of her friends, will be held at the Pima chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Highway 70 in Pima, Arizona Saturday June 18, 2016 at 10:00 am. The viewing is from 8:30 to 9:45 am Saturday. Interment will be in the Central Cemetery following services.
Mary passed through the veil Monday June 13, 2016 at the home of her daughter Mary Margaret Norton in Central Arizona where she was greeted by her husband Calvin Ray Watson, her son Carl Arthur Watson, her father Alvin Neri DeSpain, her mother Margaret Grace Layton DeSpain, her brothers Charles, Dean, Kay, Gerald, and David, as well as many other family members and friends who preceded her. What a joyous reunion she must be having there.
Mary Elizabeth DeSpain was born to Alvin N. DeSpain and Margaret Grace Layton DeSpain on November 22, 1926 in Safford, Arizona where she grew up. She graduated from Safford High School, married Calvin Ray Watson of Thatcher, Arizona in the Mesa Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on December 17, 1946 and had four children: Michael Ray, Mary Margaret, Carl Arthur, and Paul Martin. No woman loves her children more or sacrificed more for them than did Mary. She is a woman of great faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and it was that faith that got her through the many trials of her life. She passed her testimony, knowledge of the gospel, and love of her Eternal Father in Heaven on to her children and that is her greatest legacy. She loved everyone she met and was known for her warm wonderful hugs even at Wal-Mart where she worked as a cashier and greeter. It was her job as a greeter that she loved best. She loved bowling with her family and friends at Safford Bowl. She bowled twice a week and bowled on Thursday the week before she died. It was a family tradition started by her father when they had pinsetter boys. She made many friends around the Gila Valley and in Mesa, Arizona where she lived and raised her family.
She loved flowers, especially roses and they grew beautifully for her. She loved gardening and grew fruit trees from seeds and while she could she always had a vegetable garden. She loved animals and had a bird bath and feeder outside her home so she could watch them. No stray dog or cat was homeless if they came to her door, nor was anyone else for that matter.
If she could, she would give all her friends and family a big hug and tell them she loves them and to be good until they meet again.
Her only sister Margaret Nottingham (91) of Thatcher, Arizona now lives in Florida with her daughter Debbie Destin.
Michael and his wife Florence live in Pima, AZ, Mary Margaret and her husband Randy live in Central, AZ, Sharon Watson Carl’s widow lives in Central, AZ, and Paul and his wife Lisa live in Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ.
Mary has twenty grandchildren and thirtyeight great-grandchildren. What a legacy.
Services are under the direction of McDougal’s Caldwell Funeral Chapel & Gila Valley Crematory. Online condolences may be extended at www.caldwellfuneralchapel.com.
