In Memory

Kathy Watson

Kathryn Irene Watson, 47, formerly of Sheridan, of Auburn Hills, Michigan, passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at her parents’ home in Sheridan.

Kathy was born on September 23, 1961 in Billings, MT to Billy and Emilie Ruth Watson. As a teenager she participated in 4-H and served as an Honored Queen in Jobs Daughters. Kathy graduated from Sheridan High School in 1979 and attended the University of Wyoming where she graduated with a BS in Chemical Engineering in 1984. Following graduation, she was employed by EDS of Michigan as a software analyst where she worked for 24 years. She was an active member in the Jaycees, the American Association of University Women, the Society of Women Engineers, and an active member her local Christian Church. Her interests included decorating, sewing, reading, entertaining, spending time with family and friends, traveling, cooking, and doing charitable works.

Kathy was preceded in death by her grandparents, Homer and Bertine Watson and Albert and Ruth Eckardt. She is survived by her parents, Billy and Emilie Ruth Watson of Sheridan; sisters, Lynda Bezzina of Denver, CO and Christine Thorne of Casper, WY; brother, Charles Watson of Sheridan, WY; nieces and nephews, Michael Bezzina, Nathaniel, Alexander, and Evelina Watson, and Madeline Thorne.

Cremation arrangements were with Kane Funeral Home. The family will be holding a memorial service at First Christian Church on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Doug Goodwin officiating. Kane Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorials be made in Kathy’s name to Hospice of the Big Horns, 1401 W. 5th, Sheridan, WY 82801 or the First Christian Church, 102 S. Connor, Sheridan, WY 82801 or the American Ovarian Cancer Society, 907 N. Poplar Ave., Suite 185, Casper, WY 82601.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 
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03/13/09 05:35 PM #5    

Mary Kinskey (Ridgeway)

Kathy was a sweetheart, intelligent and a kind soul.

04/22/09 11:23 PM #6    

Helen (Elena) Kendrick (Campbell)

I sat next to Kathy in 8th grade band where she was first flute, first chair. She was precious. Always gracious, always kind.....even though she was undoutedly stunned by some of the misbehaviour she saw around her. I am so sad to read of her illness.

06/22/09 04:53 PM #7    

Camille Hape (VanHouten)

I knew Kathy from the time we were 3 years old. Our families lived on nearby ranches and our parents were long time friends. Kathy and I grew up together. We attended the same country school, were in 4H together, transfered into "town school" together, rode the school bus together, we even got bit by the same dog and got our first tetanus shots together! Almost all my childhood memories include Kathy.
Even when we were young Kathy was responsible and organized. She helped take care of her three younger siblings and helped take care of me because I was disorganized and a bit of a dreamer. Adults and sr. citizens always loved Kathy. She could talk to them in such a mature way.
We cut our long hair into shags and were locker partners in Jr. High school. We joined Job's Daughters together. In High school, though Kathy did not have a great sense of rhythm I talked her into trying out for Pom pom girls. Kathy was less than enthusiastic when she made the squad but in true Kathy form she worked harder at it than any one else and never complained.
Kathy was always strong academically and was forever helping me with homework. She helped me learn to read in first grade and helped me get through freshman algebra in High school. She did it while never making me feel in any way inferior. Kathy had a gift for making the people around her feel good about themselves. She could find something nice to say about anyone. I often thought she was the smartest and most talented person in the room but you would never know it by listening to her! If anyone pointed out her accomplishments she would just shrug them off and point out something someone else had done.
Kathy was so polite it was almost painful at times but she also had a great dry sense of humor. Sometimes I would look over to see what her response was to certain situations. She could keep a pleasant, polite expression in any circumstance but if you knew her well you could tell what she was really thinking and many times it was very funny. I would always needle her to get her to comment later.
If it weren't for Kathy I might never have married my husband. When we were Jr's in High school Doug moved to Sheridan. Kathy and Doug worked at McDonalds together and had many classes together. They dated as Sr's and college freshmen and so I also became a friend of Doug's. Doug and I started dating our Jr. year of college. Kathy liked to say she trained him well so that was why he made such a great husband for me. That's not exactly the way Doug thinks of it!
When we got to college Kathy went into chemical engineering even though the classes were difficult, and her father was unsure that it was the right choice. She was sure there was a place for her in this male dominated field and she was right. After graduating, she moved to Detroit to take a job in the I.T. department of General Motors.
Kathy had a full and interesting life in Detroit but she went through alot of heart ache when her marriage ended. As always she didn't complain but the fact that she didn't keep in as close a contact said much. When she became ill she was (not surprisingly) heroically brave. She kept right on working up until a month before she passed away. She was really touched when friends from work and her church and old friends from school reached out to her.
It's hard not to wish she was still here. I just keep thinking that each flower doesn't ask how long it will bloom. Kathy was beautiful and we are lucky she was here with us while she was. I will never forget my friend, and all that I owe to her.


07/03/09 07:25 AM #8    

Keely Heath (Ziegler)

Camille......

That is a nice write up. Thanks for posting it.

I think one of life's greatest treasures is to have a lifelong friendship/kinship with someone.

I have a 36 year friendship with a girl in WI. We met in Jr. High and I just saw her again last month. I think you and Kathy's friendship was like that. It's a priceless thing.

12/04/14 12:34 PM #9    

Nelson Maldonado

My wife, Marilyn, and I were reminiscing about past loves last week, so we jumped on the Internet to try and find them.  Kathy was my last love before I met my wife. I wanted Marilyn to know and see who she was, so I typed in “Kathy Watson”, and there she was in what I believe was her graduation picture. It was wonderful to see her face once again – I was all smiles.  As I read the caption, I was stunned and saddened to learn she had passed.

I'd like to contribute some history and thoughts in honor of her memory.

I met Kathy at EDS in Troy Michigan around 1986 or 7. At the time, I worked for Compuware as a software analyst and was on assignment at the same EDS facility.

On my first day, as I made my way to my cubicle, I couldn't help notice this very pretty girl sitting just a few cubicles from mine. It took me a few minutes to get up the nerve, but I walked over and struck up a conversation with Kathy. Although she was was a bit shy, Kathy was friendly and easy to talk to.  We seemed to enjoy each others company and found ourselves together most of the time. It wasn't long before we started dating.

I found Kathy to be a very unique person, there was just that something about her. She was funny, smart, had a great heart and a kind soul. She never complained about anything, was upbeat and always looking on the bright side. I never saw Kathy angry and if anything ever did bother her, she never let on. As a case in point... we got stuck in traffic one day. While I'm sitting there aggravated at our predicament, Kathy, not missing a beat, pulled out her needles and started to knit. I must admit I got a bit perturbed with her for not joining me in my frustration! In hindsight, I should of recognized how adorable it was! She just had this ability to take things in stride. Then there was one morning when Kathy made us pancakes for breakfast. As I sat down, I noticed they where completely flat – like a tortilla! I guess it's a good thing she started taking cooking classes! One crazy moment came when one of Kathy's sisters came to visit from Wyoming. We took her Downtown Detroit. We weren't there five minutes when a guy approached us with a sob story and needing money. Kathy, being the person she was, gave the guy some money – we all did. At that point, two undercover officers jumped out of an unmarked police car and ran over to us. Needless to say, we were all a little dumb founded and freaked out. It turned out the guy was just a known conman. The cops arrested him and we got our money back. I'm sure that's a day her sister won't forget.

Kathy invited me to Wyoming to meet her parents, Billy and Emilie. It was a fun trip. I was surprised to find that she had a little stubborn streak – she wouldn't take me to see Devil's Tower. I guess she'd played tour guide one too many times!  Seeing how and where she grew up, it was easy to see how incredibly brave it was of Kathy to move, on her own, to another state and build a life. Even though Kathy was now living and working in a big city, she was still a country girl at heart.

We did many of the things that couples do together like; dressing up for Halloween, wine tasting, traveling, just being together and having dinners for two. Kathy was sweet and fun to be around, yet reserved. She was never really comfortable talking about herself.

As time went on... Kathy made known her desire to have a baby and start a family. I've thought about that moment over the years and concluded that I just didn't see what I had in Kathy at the time.

I've gained heart warming insight into Kathy's life reading Camille's eulogy and other classmates thoughts of her. It's easy to see that one of Kathy's most wonderful attributes was her willingness to give of herself.

I'm glad Kathy had a full and interesting life - as Camille wrote, she deserved it! but I'm also sad that Kathy was not able to become a mother. It brings tears to my eyes because I know that's one thing she really wanted to be, she would have been a great mom!

Camille, although we have not met, I'm eternally grateful to you... not only for being a true life long friend to Kathy, but for sharing your memories of her.

Kathy was one of the most beautiful people I've ever known, I was lucky to have known her. I will always remember Kathy and keep her warmly in my heart.

 

P.S.  I'd like to express my condolences to the Watson family and ask that they take joy in the knowledge that Kathy was a truly beautiful spirit and a wonderful human being.  I was privileged to know her.


12/05/14 11:48 PM #10    

Keely Heath (Ziegler)

Thank you for those wonderful memories Nelson!!    I was happy to add you to the site so others can read your comments.   I hope Kathy's friends and family can read them.    You have a wonderful wife it sounds like!!!  


12/06/14 11:23 AM #11    

Janice Hillstead (Hurley)

Kathy was simply the kindest, sweetest girl I ever knew.   Loved her and her family....  So sad.   Thinking of her does make me smile....


12/06/14 07:10 PM #12    

Nelson Maldonado

I wish i had some pictures of Kathy and I together to share... but they seem to be lost.  However, the picture of her sitting on Santa's lap... her hair, wearing geans, her smile... just the way she was dressed overall -  is the way i remember her.  She didn't dress up that often, but when she did...  she was gorgeous!

BTW, we did dance now and then and yes... I can confirm that she was "adorably" uncoordinated!


12/07/14 03:36 PM #13    

Susan Juroszek (Brophy)

Thank you Nelson for sharing your time with Kathy.  I'm smiling just thinking about you and her. I miss Kathy terribly but cherish all the crazy times we had together.  Kathy truly was the most kindhearted person I know.  We lost touch for  awhile but reconnected and had a great time bashing our exs who were both named Mike. I always loved hearing about her latest "sewing project". She joked that when she died, someone would be able to open their own fabric store with all the materials she had bought for her "next project".  Kathy was the eternal optimist and saw the good in everyone (she didn't bash her ex nearly as much as I did).  I agree with you, Kathy would have been a fantastic mother which was proven when she took her stepson under her wing. 

Thanks again Nelso for sharing your stories about Kathy. 


12/09/14 01:48 AM #14    

Nelson Maldonado

I was hoping for some closure about Kathy's life after we broke up?

  • When and how long was she married?
  • What happened to her marriage?

It's not my intention to pry or be rude, and I realize these questions may too personal to answer publicly, so please accept my apologies for over stepping my bounds.  However, if any of her friends wish to help, please send me a private message.

 


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