Connie Ruth Watson

Connie Ruth Watson, 74, passed away suddenly Thursday, Feb. 1.

She was born in Kingsville Sept. 8, 1949, to Tas Silas Watson Jr. and Geneva Pemberton Watson. The family moved to Fairfield, where Tas grew up, to Red’s Lake in 1957, then into town in 1959. She graduated from Fairfield High School in 1968, then attended Texas Women’s College majoring in physical education.

While in high school she was an outstanding athlete, scoring high points in basketball and winning awards in tennis. In later years she became a scratch golfer, and she took time to teach kids on golf swings.

She worked at Freestone Country Club from 1977 to 1993 and was promoted to general manager of the clubhouse, restaurant, bar and 18hole golf course. Prior to that she worked for Sam’s Restaurant for two years. After the country club she was employed by Pronto Food Stores, working up to manager and then a supervisor of managers. She started as manager for Taco Bell/KFC when it opened in Fairfield in 1998, and she worked there for five years.

She developed ovarian cancer, undergoing surgery and chemo treatments and becoming free of cancer for almost 17 years. The last few years she worked for Brookshire Brothers in Fairfield, and it became her second home with the employees her second family. She was literally “hobbled” by arthritis during that time, but she was stubborn and tough as nails. She loved her work and friends there.

Connie was a one-ofa- kind character, even a bit quirky at times. Her famous storytelling ability could often bring tears of laughter to people’s eyes. She had the ability to repair just about anything, an innate skill passed on by her mother. She enjoyed teaching kids about life, sports, and job skills. However, the real love she had was for her great nephew and niece, River and Rainy Bonds. They received most of her lessons — especially in how to raise their County Fair pigs — as well as many other projects and chores, including how to clean up a yard anytime she needed help!

She was a member of the Jonathan Hardin Chapter of the NSDAR and she was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Having a love for travel, she went to the New England area — especially Salem — and also to the World Poker Tour in Las Vegas, having played poker many years. She took several trips with golf ladies to play in tournaments around the state. She loved M&M characters and everything Disney, where she went one year for fun. Every year at County Fair parade time she hosted gatherings in the shade of her lawn, always with water, soft drinks, and food available as well as chairs and sometimes fans. She was a very good cook, especially meats and desserts.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Tas and Geneva Watson, and her younger sister, Denise Watson Wells. Connie is survived by her older sister, Jenny Calame and husband Jerry; her niece Maggie Bonds and husband Jerry “Bondo” and their two children River and Rainy Bonds of Fairfield and her niece Neva Stephens Colonuts and her husband Zachary and their their children, Kenai, Sofia, and Kion of Cortez, CO.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Freestone Cancer Support Group, P. O. Box 1522, Fairfield, Texas 75840. Due to her love of animals — even strays — another would be a donation to an animal shelter.

A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at Fairfield First United Methodist Church Thursday, Feb. 8, with visitation at 10 a.m. followed by the service at 11 a.m. She has been cremated, and her remains will be buried later in the Tas and Evelyn Watson plot in the Fairfield Cemetery.