Roland E. (Sonny) Watson

He passed away at home after a short battle with lung cancer. He was born July 29, 1942 in Yakima, WA to Ralph L. Watson and Erna L. (Schieckoff) Watson. He was raised and educated in Naches, W A.

He married Phoebe M. Kjolaas on March 24, 1962 in Yakima. They have made their home in Gleed for the last 40 years.

He worked 25 years in the logging industry doing all jobs from faller to truck driver. He worked the last 25 years for Allen Brothers Fruit of Naches, designing and building various pieces of equipment and managing cold storage rooms. Sonny was very talented and one of his favorite things was to go play in the orchards with any piece of equipment that would lift a tree out of the ground.

He enjoyed fly fishing, hunting, bow hunting, ham radios and four wheeling. He spent 25 years having great fun as a Gleed volunteer fireman. He and Phoebe enjoyed many camping weekends with friends and family and any weekend that included his grandchildren was extra special. Sonny had a great talent for building and repairing all things. This talent was shared with everyone who needed it. He loved doing for others.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Erna Watson.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years and his children Cindy and John Morris of Raleigh, NC and Michelle and Tom Helgeson of Kent, WA. He also leaves behind five beloved grandchildren, Philip and Chloe Morris, and Halie, Ty, and Cody Helgeson.

He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Delores and Bob Ward of Valley, WA and his brother and sister-in-law, Guy and Ramona Watson of Gleed. He leaves behind 15 much loved nieces and nephews and their families. And an abundance of loving friends and relatives.

A celebration of his life will be on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at Shiloh Christian Center at 1:00 pm.

We his family, wish to extend a special thank you to the people of Living Springs Foursquare Church who loved us well through this time. To the Gleed fire department for their love and help. To Kathy and Kate of Memorial Hospice and to Fred and Cindy Rudolph who stayed with Sonny and I through the night as he died. We love you all, may God bless and keep you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Flowers are welcome or if preferred a memorial gift to Living Springs Foursquare Church building fund.