Dr. Christopher "C-Dub" Russel Watts

Christopher "Chris" Russel Watts, 53, of Colleyville, Texas, passed away on January 14th, 2026 after a valiant fight against cancer. Born on May 28, 1972, in Sacramento, California, Chris spent his life enjoying his family, travel, sports, and friends.

After graduation from high school Chris relocated with his family to Biloxi, Mississippi, where he met the love of his life and future wife, Deborah "Debbie" Watts (Marsh). Chris joined Debbie as a member of Beauvoir United Methodist Church in Biloxi. Chris and Debbie were married on December 18th, 1994, and together they raised two beautiful daughters along with numerous beloved pets. Chris and Debbie recently celebrated 30 years of marriage together and with their daughters enjoyed adventures travelling across the globe.

Chris grew up in a military family and as a child moved all over the world, with stops in California, Germany, England, Indiana, and Georgia. A proud alumnus of Alconbury High School in England, where his father was stationed in the United States Air Force, Chris went on to obtain bachelor and doctoral degrees from the University of South Alabama and built a distinguished career as a teacher and researcher in higher education. Chris was a professor of Speech-Language Pathology and held faculty positions at the University of Central Florida, the University of South Alabama, James Madison University, and for the past 18 years at Texas Christian University (TCU) where he was also a Department Chair and Dean of the Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences. Chris developed an international reputation in the science of voice production and disorders, was author of a textbook on that topic, and was elected as a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Chris was especially proud of his connection with the Parkinson's community in Tarrant County, a condition in which he focused much of his research, and he developed many resources for that community to help those battling against the disease.

Chris was an avid athlete and lover of sports. At Alconbury High School he played varsity football as quarterback, where he earned All-Conference honors and was elected Homecoming King, and played varsity basketball, tennis, and soccer. Chris was amusingly fond of letting people know that in college he, Debbie and their friends were intramural kickball and walleyball champions and were major contenders in oozeball. Chris was also an enthusiast of golf and most recently developed a love of pickleball where he teamed with Debbie to form a fierce husband-wife partnership on the pickleball court. He was a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ipswich Town, his alma mater South Alabama, and of course TCU.

Those left behind to cherish his memory are his loving wife of more than 30 years, Deborah Watts; children, Lindsey Sage Watts and Emily Rose Watts; mother Glynis Watts; father Michael Watts: and brothers Shawn Watts and Patrick Watts.

His legacy lives on through the family he loved deeply and the work he devoted himself to with integrity and passion. May his memory bring comfort to those who knew him.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home, located at 5725 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville, TX 76034, on January 19, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Punching Out Parkinson's at https://punchingoutparkinsons.org