Eloise E. Watson

She was born in Efland, North Carolina, March 22, 1917, and was the fourth of ten children of Mack Paul and Estelle (Forrest) Efland. She attended local schools and participated in all sports. She was a member of the Efland High School girls' basketball team that won the 1930 District Three Championship of North Carolina.

She graduated in 1938 with a degree in business from Women's College University of North Carolina at Greensboro. After graduation, Eloise taught business skills at Burlington, NC High School, and then became the office manager at Liberty Chair Company. While in college she met Bill Watson, a student at Dartmouth who had come to North Carolina with the track team to run against the UNC team at Chapel Hill. As a result of meeting Eloise, Bill enrolled at Duke University Law School in Durham, NC, and their courtship continued. When Bill graduated from Duke Law School, they were married at the Efland United Methodist Church, and moved to Keene, where they resided for the rest of their lives. Eloise's life centered around church, bridge club, gardening, sports, and raising their three children.

Eloise enjoyed golf and tennis, and became proficient enough at golf to twice win the Keene County Club's women's championship. She also learned to play tennis when the indoor courts were built on Martell Court, and became an inspiration to her younger teammates and playing partners in inter club matches. She had to give up her sports activities when she became afflicted with macular degeneration.

She became a very active member of the Keene Unitarian Universalist Church, taught Sunday school, and was the flower chairperson and greeter for a number of years. She was a board member and president of Prospect Place in the 60's, and lived at that facility for a brief time this year after she had a fall. She enjoyed the interaction with the friendly staff, and was thrilled to make new acquaintances there. A larger medical problem took her to Langdon Place where she was given Hospice Care, and loving care by the staff.

Eloise is the widow of William H. Watson Jr who died in 1997.

Survivors include a daughter, Phyllis W. Rogers and her husband, James, of Newnan, GA and Perterborough, NH, a son, Douglas K. Watson and his wife, Susan Hunter, of Vero Beach, FL, a daughter, Barbara L. Reny and her husband, Donald, of Williamsburg, VA, two grandchildren: Jake W. Watson of NYC and Seattle, WA, and Cara R. Reznick and her husband, Joe, of Amherst, NY, great grandsons: William A. Reznick and Collin M. Reznick of Amherst, NY, a sister, Ann E. Gandy of Annandale, VA, and a brother, Mack Paul Efland and his wife, Mildred, of Dunwoody, GA, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial Services for Mrs. Watson will be held Sunday May 20th at 3 o'clock in the afternoon at the Keene Unitarian Universalist Church, 69 Washington Street, Keene. A reception will follow. Friends are invited. There are no public calling hours.

It has been requested that in lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in memory of Eloise Watson to the the New Hampshire Association of the Blind, 25 Walker Street, Concord, NH, 03301, or to the Keene Unitarian Universalist Church, 69 Washington Street, Keene, or to the Meals on Wheels program at Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services, PO Box 564, 312 Marlboro Street, Keene, NH 03431, or to the Keene Community Kitchen, Box 1315, Keene, NH, or to the charity of your choice.

The Fletcher Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 33 Marlboro Street, Keene is in charge of the arrangements.