Benjamin Watson

Benjamin Watson, age 88, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at Courtney Manor in Bad Axe, following a brief illness. He was born June 30, 1922 in Evergreen Township in Sanilac County, the son of the late Benjamin H. & Iva (Robinson) Watson. Ben grew up and graduated from Cass City High School with the class of 1939. He joined the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in the Aleutian Islands from 1943 until 1946. Following his discharge, he was united in marriage with the former Gladys Elaine Smith on December 27, 1947 in Colwood, and made his home with her in Caro where Ben was employed with the Caro Lumber Yard from 1941 for twenty-five years. He was then employed as a custodian supervisor for Caro Community Schools from 1966 until his retirement in 1985. During his retirement, Ben drove cars for the Howard Bell GMC dealership. He was an active member of the Caro United Methodist Church, serving on its building committee, as an usher and trustee and various other committees over the years. Ben was also a sixty-four year member of the Caro American Legion Post #7. During his free time, he enjoyed being with his family and grandchildren, serving on the Tuscola County Fair Board for many years, watching the Detroit Tigers, gardening, woodworking, refinishing antiques, crossword puzzles and watching harness racing. Left to cherish Bens memory are his wife of over sixty-two years, Elaine Watson of Bad Axe; three children and their spouses, Marsha & Jim Disher of Athens, Alabama, Mary Jo & Charles Mantey of Port Austin, Steven & Julie Watson of Bad Axe; eight grandchildren & their spouses, Michael & Katy Disher, Melissa & Michael Forton, Nicole & Michael Gibson, all of Madison, Alabama, Katie & Ward Carter of Bad Axe, Becky Mantey of East Lansing, Timothy & Kimberly Mantey of Bay City, Matthew and Brian Watson, both of Bad Axe; seven great-grandchildren, Spencer, Lance and Jordyn Carter, Noah Mantey, Benjamin and Nicholas Forton, Jackson Disher and a baby Gibson expected in February of 2011; one brother, Grant Watson of Caro and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Ben was preceded in death by two sisters, Betty Miller and Shirley Bader.