Anita Natalie Watson

Anita Watson passed away in Fort Collins on June , 2015. She was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota in 1923, went to East High School in Denver, and attended the Colorado State Teacher’s College in Greeley (UNC) where she studied art education and was a member of Alpha Phi sorority. She married W. Doane Watson in 1944 and they enjoyed 68 years together. They raised 3 children in Denver, Colorado; Leslie Clair Fisette (m. Paul), Lawrence Bruce Watson (m. Cathy Perron), and Paula Sue Lakamp (m. Ronald). They have 7 grandchildren; Elizabeth Morrison Singh, Noah Fisette, Jesse Fisette, Jesse Watson, Amy Watson Dixon, Bryce Lakamp, and Charlotte Martinez. There are 8 great-grandchildren, Arjun Singh, Soraya Singh, Simran Singh, Colin Fisette, Sadie Fisette, Lanie Fisette, Zandrea Washburn, Taylen Dixon and Connor Lakamp. She was predeceased by her parents, Lester F. Austin and Natalie Daisy Godfrey Austin. She is survived by her brothers, James F. Austin of Fort Collins, CO and David Austin of Fallbrook, CA, and sister, Lorna Means of Mesa, AZ.

Doane and Anita were instrumental in founding Wellshire Presbyterian Church in Denver in 1950. Anita’s first love was her family, but she found time to hold every office possible in the church. Anita lived a life of creativity, from the many quilts she made to the gardens she cultivated. Each grandchild and great-grandchild was presented with a quilt upon their graduation or birth. She also lived a life of service to others, from her church duties to volunteering with Denver’s Needlework Guild. She was an active Alpha Phi alum, a docent for the Denver Art Museum, and kept up with various art groups. She was especially well known for her watercolor art and kept a garden of flowers that she could paint. She was an avid reader and traveler, and reflected a broad, accepting and evolving love of life.

A memorial service will be held at Wellshire Presbyterian Church on July 16, 2015 at 1:00 in the afternoon where her ashes will be interred. Donations, in lieu of flowers, can be made to Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico, a Presbyterian facility for art and spirituality.