John Lee Watson

John Lee Watson, age 73, victoriously went to Jesus on January 8, 2022, at home surrounded by his family after a courageously fought battle with cerebellar ataxia. John was born November 11, 1948, in Victoria, TX, to Frances and Gene Watson. He spent the majority of his youth in Velma, OK. It was here that he danced with his future bride, Janice Golson, in the first-grade play, but they didn’t begin dating until he asked her to the Sweetheart Banquet in the 8th grade. In high school, John played football, basketball, and ran track as a Velma-Alma Comet. He graduated with 26 others in 1967. John left the next day to sell bible books door to door in North Carolina for the summer. After Janice spent the fall semester in Stillwater, she joined John at the University of Oklahoma. She agreed to marry him under the sign at Penn Square Mall in Oklahoma City. They were married at the chapel on campus on January 24, 1970. After John graduated from pharmacy school in 1972, he and Janice moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma, to begin his career at the VA Hospital. In 1980 John rented space in his friend Bill Johnson’s grocery store to open M & P Pharmacy. One year later, John and Janice took a big leap by purchasing Economy Pharmacy. When they retired in 2016, the company had grown to include two Muskogee pharmacy locations, two Tulsa pharmacy locations, and four Alternacare medical equipment locations. John valued the relationships made throughout his career with both employees and customers. John served his community through the Rotary Club, BancFirst board of directors, HIlldale Education Foundation, and Salvation Army board. He enjoyed being a School Board Member for Hilldale Public Schools for ten years. John was a founding member and elder at the Muskogee Church of Christ. John was passionate about OU football. He held season tickets for almost 25 years, attending nearly every game in Norman and on the road. John enjoyed fishing, golfing, playing croquet, traveling, coaching the Economy Pills softball team, and attending any event of his grandkids. Later in life, John enjoyed driving his antique cars. It brought him lots of joy to share them with others in parades, weddings, and homecomings. But what he loved most of all was making memories with his family. John was preceded in death by his parents, Frances and Alton Eugene Watson; grandparents, Verna and John Watson and Lee and Bob Henderson; parents-in-law, Vauda and TJ Golson; brother-in-law, Mickey Cowan. John is survived by his wife of 51 years, Janice; 3 children, Rebecca Schiller (Chris), Barry Watson (Kelly), and Chelsi Wallingford (Jim); 7 grandchildren, Watson and Cash Schiller, Caroline and Lily Watson, and George, John Theodore, and James Wallingford- all of Muskogee, OK. Brother, Al Watson (Joyce) of Enid, OK; and brother, David Watson (Lynda) of Ramona, CA; Sister-in-law, Vauda Cowan of Ada, OK; along with many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family would like to give special thanks to the excellent team of caregivers that worked selflessly for over five years to provide the best of care for John. A service to honor the life of John Watson will be held at noon on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at the Muskogee Church of Christ. Interment will be immediately following at Green Hill Cemetery. Friends may wish to remember John by donating to Hilldale Education Foundation Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 307, Muskogee, OK. 74403.

John Lee Watson

November 11, 1948 - January 8, 2022