Mary Elizabeth Watson

Mary Elizabeth Watson, 89, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, passed away Monday, September 29, 2014. She was born May 4, 1925 in Muskogee, Oklahoma to Logan and Christine Goss. Mary Graduated from Muskogee Central High School with the class of 1942, with honors. She married the love of her life, Riley “Buck” Rhodes Watson, Jr. November 20, 1945. They shared 37 years of marriage together. Mary and Buck were heavily devoted to their children, Mary Ann and Ricky. They attended all of their sporting events and extracurricular activities. Buck coached Ricky's Clem Smalley Ford Baseball Team in the early 1960's and Mary was always their number one fan. She kept the scorebooks and aided the team as, “Team Mom". She attended all of Ricky's Rougher football, track, and baseball games and as an adult they took many fishing trips to Canada together. She also loved to travel with Mary Ann and her family for vacations and softball tournaments. Mary was a retiree at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Her service to veterans was from August 19, 1943, to May 05, 1949, she then had her first child, Ricky and came back to the office October 03, 1955, and retired January 19, 1983. She loved all of her time at the VA and loved talking about memories and old cases she had authorized with her fellow retiree friends. She was revered to all as a very hard worker and always did right by the veteran. Mary was a member of New Community Church, where her favorite job was being a door greeter to members and visitors arriving at church. She enjoyed gardening, fishing, sewing, traveling, painting, crocheting, cooking, baking, but most of all spending time with her family and friends especially, her grandchild and great-grandchildren. Amy her oldest granddaughter was her first pride and joy. Amy could do no wrong in her eyes and also, gave Mary her most known alias, “Mom-Mom". Mary also enjoyed attending her baby granddaughter, Tiffany's softball games and was known to all as, "Granny". She dearly loved her Great Grandchildren Bradyn and Aria. She enjoyed listening to Bradyn play the guitar and loved playing hide and seek with Aria. Later in life Mary enjoyed eating breakfast at McDonald's and Burger King where she became widely known as, "Miss Mary". After breakfast she would make her rounds for shopping at the Golden Rule, Hobby Lobby, and Salvation Army stores. She supported her local businesses and they loved her. Mary was loved by many, she never met a stranger and she will be greatly missed. She is preceded in death by her parents, Logan and Christine Goss; husband, Buck Watson; son, also best friend, Rick Watson; grandson, Lance Allen White; Niece, Linda Bashore-Boothe. Mary is survived by her daughter, Mary Ann White and husband Phil of Muskogee, OK; granddaughter, Tiffany Newell and husband Justin and great grandchild, Aria Mae Newell; granddaughter, Amy Satterfield and great grandson Bradyn Satterfield; Sister, Louise Robertson; Nephew, Ray Bashore; and many cousins, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend thanks to Eastgate Village Retirement Center, Hometown Hospice, and Eastar Health System for their kind and compassionate care. Memorials in honor of Mary can be made to the BOOM Outdoors, a ministry she supported at New Community Church, 3600 E Shawnee Rd, Muskogee, OK 74403. Family Visitation for Mary will be Thursday October 2, 2014, from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. Funeral services for Mary will be 10:30 A.M., Friday, October 3, 2014, at New Community Church with Pastor Tim Salters officiating. Interment will follow at Greenhill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Bob Cox, Darrell Wood, Dick Goss, David Wolfenbarger, Mike Dickerson, O.D. Rosson, Shawn Velsor, and Tommy Spriggs. Honorary Pallbearers will be Bill Pearson, Lynn Phipps, Jim Venable, Bill Wright, Dennis Brasel, and Ray Bashore.

Mary Elizabeth Watson

May 4, 1925 - September 29, 2014