John P. Watson, Jr.

On Saturday, November 9th, 2024 at 2:00pm, a visitation and wake will commence for John P. Watson, Jr., 85, of Jefferson, Texas and at 3:00pm, a service of remembrance and celebration of his life with Pastor Charles Moore officiating and under the direction of Haggard Funeral Home.We invite all family and friends to join. 

Beloved Husband and Father John P. Watson, Jr., of Jefferson, Texas, passed away on Friday, November 1, 2024, into the loving arms of our precious Lord and Savior.  John was born on April 15, 1939, to John P. Watson, Sr., and Ollie Beatrice Watson in Cottonport, Louisiana, but soon after the family relocated to Jefferson.  After graduating Jefferson High School, he joined the Marines in 1957 where he served 3 years with an honorable discharge and completed 2 years of College.  After his military service he moved to Houston, Texas where he found his calling and began a career within the hospitality and food industry.  He met and married Doris M. Schindewolf Watson and began a blended family with his sons, John P. Watson, III (Trey) and Donald R. Watson, along with her 2 daughters Suzanne Stone Garrett and Sharilynn Stone Hawkins.  Soon after he continued his career where he managed, owned and operated Dairy Queens.  In retirement, he and his wife came back to Jefferson, Texas where he lived the remainder of his life where they were active in the First Baptist Church of Jefferson.  He enjoyed working in Real Estate for a short time during his retirement years and also owned and operated a rent property in Kellyville, Texas.  John will be most remembered for his protective nature of his family, his playful and joyful sense of humor which never went unnoticed amongst family, friends and even perfect strangers, his incredible work ethic where he taught his employees and children that serving others with a passion and a smile are essential for success in business.  He also enjoyed hunting with his grandchildren which was his happy place.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Sue Paul, and his brother Don Watson.

Those left behind are his wife, Doris M. Watson, sons John P. Watson, III (Trey), Donald R. Watson, daughters Suzanne Garrett and Sharilynn Hawkins, granddaughter Taylor Lyn Watson, grandsons John Rachal, Jared Rachal, and Kyle Mikulenka, great grandsons Jackson Rachal, Pierce Rachal, Davis Rachal, Jacob Mikulenka, and Liam Mikulenka, oldest sister Johnnie Peck, younger brother Tom Watson, and numerous nieces and nephews, son in law, and daughter in law.

In lieu of flowers, his wishes were for donations to be made to First Baptist Church Texarkana’s TV ministry, in which he and his wife Doris enjoyed Sunday mornings together.

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