Mr. Philip Kelly Watson, aged 73, passed away peacefully on the morning of Saturday, May 12th, 2018 at WellStar Kennestone Hospital, just down the road from his newly adopted home of Kennesaw, GA. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage after a lengthy battle with cardiovascular disease.
Philip was born on October 16, 1944 in New Orleans, LA. The son of Robert Rylander and Mary Kelly Watson and the older brother of Kay Miller Watson. He married his high school sweetheart, Brenda Ann Rogers, on July 9th, 1966, and served in the U.S. Army Reserves during the Vietnam era. Philip's vocational career spanned numerous roles in the oilfield services industry, including commercial diver, machine shop owner, and sales executive. A creative inventor and business owner, he was awarded several patents for innovation in oilfield tools, and founded or co-founded several successful small businesses.
Philip lived most of his life in Terrebonne Parish; Houma, LA. As a lifelong sportsman and environmental steward, Philip loved the hunting and fishing culture that many of his fellow Louisianians enjoy daily. A convert to Catholicism later in life, he became a 4th Degree member of his local Knights of Columbus Council and remained an active parishioner and sacristan.
Philip is survived by his spouse, Brenda Rogers Watson; his son and daughter-in-law Erick Kelly and Tao Sun Watson; his daughter Carrie Leigh Watson; his grandchildren Jeremy Kelly, Anya Zhen and Emily Hong Watson; and his sister Kay Miller Watson.
Mr. Watson's funeral arrangements were provided by Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home.
"Servite aliis semper"
