Carlos Watson's Obituary
Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin-top:0in;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-para-margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}Tennessee Born and RaisedCarlos began his life journey in Old Hickory, Tennessee. He was born on May 10, 1929 to Elmer and Edna Watson. Carlos spent some of his childhood at his Granddaddy’s house on the river where he learned to fish and trap at an early age. Carlos completed all of his schooling in the area and remained in Tennessee for his entire life, except for a two-year placement with the Navy. He worked for Dupont and then the Ford Glass Plant for 30 years before retiring. Beginnings with BettieCarlos met and married Bettie June, starting their life together in their first home in Madison, where they stayed for 17 years. Here they welcomed their daughters into the world. After the girls got older, the family move to Hendersonville, to the home in which they remained thereafter. Bettie confesses that the couple disagreed on things, but always worked them out. Carlos’ quiet demeanor was complemented by Bettie’s talkativeness. He told her the “upstairs of the home was hers” and she could keep it clean if she wanted to, but the basement was his! Together, Bettie and Carlos shared years of laughter and joy with family, friends and neighbors, building a loving relationship of care and commitment. Field and StreamCarlos loved to fish and hunt. These passions were fostered early by his granddaddy and maintained throughout his life. He wanted a boy as a first child so he could teach him to fish and hunt, but his daughters, and later his wife, provided more than suitable outdoor-sporting companions. Carlos and Bettie would often rise before the sun and head down to the cove to go crappie fishing. Carlos loved to be in the outdoors, and his fishing was coupled with hunting for deer and quail. These activities brought Carlos great joy, especially since they could also be shared with his four-legged companions, notably, “Mike”. Carlos “Can-Do”Carlos was a “can-do” man. He spent many hours fixing clocks, lawnmowers, cars, or anything else that needed fixing. He taught himself skills, by taking things apart, learning how they worked, and then putting them back together. Sometimes, out of thriftiness, but often out of interest and ability, Carlos would challenge himself to fix and keep, rather than throw out and buy. These skills he shared with his daughters and wife, so they too, would embrace both the desire and ability to fix things when needed. A Man of his WordCarlos was a man of few words; however, he was very much a man of his word. “He said what he meant and meant what he said,” his family recalls. Evidence of this principle was made when he told his daughters he would support their schooling financially, so long as they attended a Christian school, and studied and stayed focused. As a result, he covered the schooling for both of his girls, but when Debra met and married her husband before her final year, Carlos withdrew his support, as promised. Bettie reinforced evidence of her husband’s strong principles: “He never lied to me in the 63 years we were married.” If he promised to do something, he would do it. His daughter, Bernadean, noted that if her dad promised he would come for dinner, he would, and if it looked like rain, knowing that he didn’t drive in the rain, he would call well in advance to notify her. Other NotablesCarlos was an eater. His family confessed that he could almost be embarrassing at a buffet, and there wasn’t much he didn’t eat. His preference was Southern cooking, but he had a special spot for Bettie’s chocolate pie and Bernadean’s German Chocolate Cake! Carlos was also a prankster. He would tease Bettie by chasing her with snakes he found in the garden, knowing full well she feared them. And often, knowing Bernadean was so organized and particular, he would “re-arrange” items in her home to see if she noticed. Behind these pranks was a true love for his family. This was made evident in his worry and care for Bettie’s well being and in the manner he always went to help Bernadean, who lived close, with her home or other projects. Came to BelieveCarlos spirituality was clouded by his mother’s prejudice against the Church of Christ. However, Carlos was open-minded and went to church with Bettie and would discuss Bible readings that she shared with him. In his later years, Carlos thought a lot about his beliefs, and much to his wife’s joy, he became a Christian in the end. Bettie was moved and pleased by his decision. LegacyCarlos Watson left a legacy of example. He was loving, supportive, hard-working, and a true man of his word. Carlos passed away at age 83 on June 30, 2012. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Edna Watson, and daughter, Carla Renee Watson. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Bettie June Watson, daughters Debra Wilson (David) and Bernadean York (Jeffrey), granddaughter, Rachel Matthea Nelson and grandson, Isaac Jon-David Wilson.
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