Doc Watson, 80

LeRoy Raymond (Doc) Watson, 80, of Mountain Home, died Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2005, with his wife, Anne, by his side, after a short illness at home.

Vigil services were held Sunday, Feb. 20, at Summers Funeral Homes, McMurtrey Chapel, in Mountain Home. Funeral mass was held Monday, Feb. 21, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church with burial to follow at Mountain View Cemetery

Roy was born July 4, 1924, in Redfield, S.D., the son of John Watson and Ruth (Dolan) Watson. In his younger years he worked on his uncle's farm in Shields, N.D., and attended school there.

Roy entered the Army during WWII. After the war he married his first wife, Ann M. (Geiger) Watson on Feb. 26, 1946, in Fort Yates, N.D. He settled on Ranch land south of Shields where he and his family resided until flooded out in 1950.

He re-entered the U. S. Air Force during the Korean War and stayed in the military for the next 24 years, also serving in Vietnam, and living in Japan. He was head of the POL section in Seville, Spain, as well as Mountain Home AFB.

Roy retired as Senior Master Sergeant in July 1972 from Mountain Home AFB.

After his retirement from the Air Force he and his wife co-operated a candle business from their rural home site until its closure in 1990. Roy's wife at the time, Ann, died in February of 1996.

Roy was a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1983, being a state office holder, and filling several other positions in the K of C. He was a member of the Degree Team, and helped build the Discovery Club within the K of C. Roy also belonged to the K of C Men's Chorus, traveling to difference Catholic churches to bring joy to parishioners.

In May 1997 Roy married Anne B. (Hinds) Watson of Mountain Home, formerly of Chicago, Ill. Before Anne's marriage to Roy she volunteered at the Mountain Home Senior Center. Anne contributed her time as Roy's partner to many functions held by K of C.

Roy is survived by: his wife, Anne, of Mountain Home; his daughters, Ruth A. Christenson of Chicopee, Mass., Pamela and her husband, Way Pitre, of Washington, La., Basie Jane (B.J.) and her husband, Russell H. Kirby, of Hawaii, Ann and her husband, Michael Bernas, of Anchorage, Alaska; his brother, George Bazoff of Minn. He is also survived by his stepchildren from his current wife, LaVonn Wenger, Bernice Geiger, Ed and Deloris Geiger, Jim and Marilyn Geiger, and Julia Tinsley; four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and John Watson, his first wife, Ann M. Watson, and his daughter, Anita Marie.