Leonard Gene Watson

Leonard Watson entered into rest at
home on Aug. 28, 2013.

He was born on May 2, 1953, to Cecil E.
Watson and Wilma Jean Powers in Walla Walla. He
attended Touchet High School, played football while
attending; he graduated in 1972. During his high
school years he worked for many farmers in Touchet
and Gardena. He also worked on the family farm with
his dad — feeding cows come rain, shine or snow.
At the age of 19, he was hired at Boise Cascade box
plant, where his brother Steve was working. He was
employed there for 37 years, when he retired in 2009.

In January of 1976, his son Cory Lee Watson was
born. In 1983, Leonard met Peggy Holway and in
February 1992, they were married in Reno.

In 2006, they took the cows and bull to auction, sold
the farm and moved to Walla Walla. Leonard was a
great horse race fan from the age of 20 years old until
his death. He recently returned from the horse races
at Prinevillle and Tillmook, Ore. For decades he followed
many of his friends and their horses wherever
they were racing. He loved to go hunting and fishing;
he would take his granddaughter Britany Watson
fishing to enjoy time with her. Leonard enjoyed going
to Wildhorse Casino. He also was a big supporter of
the Touchet High School sports teams, Little League
and Pony leagues. “Go Touchet Indians.” And last his
favorite restaurant in Walla Walla was “Shari’s.” He
had many friends and there was never a person he
met whom he didn’t consider a friend.

Leonard is survived by his mother, Wilma Jean Watson;
son, Cory (Nicole) Watson; step-daughter, Kara
(Joseph) Ribar Jr.; brothers, Jerry Watson and Steve
(Jani) Watson; sister, Linda Workman; aunts and uncles,
Bill and Betty Lythgoe, Lynn Watson, Chet and
Freida Powers, Clifford Hermanns; three grandchildren;
special cousin, Albert Meyers; as well as numerous
nieces and nephews.

He lived big, played hard and died quietly. “May God
bless him in Heaven as He did on Earth.”

Graveside funeral services will be held on Wednesday,
Sept. 4, 2013, at 2 p.m. at Blue Mountain Memorial
Gardens, 300 S.E. Myra Road, College Place,
with Pastor Brad Henderson, officiant. Viewing and
visitation will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013, from
2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Herring Groseclose Funeral
Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla. Memorial contributions
can be made to the American Heart Association,
American Diabetes Association and to the
Leonard Watson Memorial Fund through the funeral
home. Family and friends are invited to sign the online
guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.