Gregory David Watson

Gregory David Watson was welcomed by Jesus into God's House on Sunday April 2, 2017. That's really all that needs to be told. But for those of who knew him and those of you that didn't have the good fortune to know Greg…

Born in Columbus, Georgia September 14, 1952 and raised in Texas, Greg was first, and foremost, a family man and a loyal friend.

Given five weeks to live, he simply said "I've still got some things I want to do". Nearly four years into chemotherapy and the myriad of other treatments and transfusions, Greg had had enough. Saying, "I've done everything I set out to accomplish. I've had a good life."

Brain cancer and chemotherapy ravaged the body. Time took its toll. But Greg left on a roll. Never asking 'why me?', he left us with dignity and honor. Simply saying "Don't you think it's time to let me go".

If the name sounds familiar, you may have been one of Greg's thousands of people who had their cars or trucks repaired by Greg or in one of Greg's Body & Paint Shops.

From humble beginnings and a childhood that included 'scratching and clawing' for a place in the 'pecking order' of school life, Greg found a friend and mentor in the Auto Body and Paint classes at Roosevelt High School. Teacher and lifelong friend Mr. Clayton Williams would take a wild and crazy kid and mentor him. Taking the time to teach Greg not just the fundamentals of auto repair, but offering words of wisdom for success in business and life. That bond, Greg would say, 'saved me'. Their friendship would last a lifetime.

Sure, Greg would go on to build multiple successful vehicle collision repair businesses, but the real story is how he treated everyone, including his customers. Whether you were a first-time customer or someone who would crash their car just to be able to come into the shop to hang-out and 'visit' with Greg, he treated everyone with service and quality that is seldom found in today's business world.

As a descendant of those who fought for the South in the Civil War, he was a member of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans, Camp 1325, The Alamo City Guards. A student in Civil War history, he and his wife Nancy would travel the country and visit many of the battle sites that so many people had given their lives. Ever mindful of how history is massaged and re-written, Greg would focus on the fact that those who died, gave their lives for something they believed in.

Preceding Greg were his father James Watson, his mother Freddie Watson, his younger brother Randy Watson, and Nancy's parents.

Greg is survived by his wife, Nancy Bentley Watson; daughters, Brandy Damron and Tiffany Watson; granddaughter, Charlotte Damron; brother, Rick Watson; sisters, Tondra Ezell and Kathy Pickett and their families. Greg is also survived by more friends than the ordinary man deserves.

A heartfelt 'Thank You" to all of Greg's family and friends who helped him through these last years. It was the Love that he received from Nancy and the rest of his family and friends that helped him turn a five-week death diagnosis into almost four more years of productive and meaningful life.

Visitation will be Sunday, April 9, 2017 beginning at 12:30 with a Memorial Service at 1:00 at Porter Loring North Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.