Anne Terry Watson

Anne was born on December 19, 1933 in Detroit, Michigan, to Robert Hodder Terry and Margaret Elizabeth Hunt. When she was three, the family moved from an apartment to a house on Aurora St., where her younger brothers Steve and Dave were born. While living there, she attended Parker Elementary School and later Mackenzie High School, graduating from the latter in June of 1951.

In the fall of 1951, she enrolled at Michigan State College, in East Lansing, Michigan, and became active in the Canterbury Club that met in Christ Church. The following fall she met Claude Meacham Watson at a Canterbury Club open house, and discovered they also shared a music appreciation class. They started studying together and playing bridge with her roommate, and by the following spring began dating. A few months later, they were engaged and in June of 1954, they were married at Christ Church, the final marriage at the church. They became founding members of All Saints Episcopal Church in East Lansing.

Anne graduated with a BS in Horticulture in June of 1955. While she had enrolled at Michigan State College, the name was changed in time for her commencement, and she was part of the first class to graduate from Michigan State University in its 100th year. It was the same institution her great grandfather, Edson Hale Hunt, had attended as Michigan Agricultural College where he graduated in 1879.

While Claude was finishing up his own degree at MSU, Anne had a variety of short term jobs, mostly in the floral field. Their daughter was born while they were still living in the old army barracks on campus. Shortly after Claude landed a job at Lansing Community College during its second year of operation, Anne began a long career of volunteer service. Joining the College Women’s Volunteer Service led to a position as the route scheduler for a program called Mobile Meals, which was a position she held for many decades. She also became active with the League of Women’s Voters. She held various positions with her church, including a period as senior warden.

Having been a Girl Scout herself as a child, she was a scout leader for her daughter’s Brownie and Girl Scout Troops, and Cub Scout den mother for each of her sons packs, and eventually an Explorer Post Leader when her children were old enough.

Through the local counsel, she also helped run a national high adventure program called Scouts on Survival. She also spent time as president of the local council. She was a recipient of both the Juliette Low award from Girl Scouts and the Silver Beaver from Boy Scouts. By 1974, to supplement the family income, she began a 17 year career as a school secretary, job sharing with Alison Cruise. Anne worked the mornings and Alison the afternoons.

Anne and Claude were lifelong Spartan fans, holding season tickets to football for over 50 years, men’s basketball tickets for over 40 years, and women’s basketball and volleyball tickets for many years. Anne sang in her church choir and with the University Choral Union as a student and years later as an adult. They were members of a duplicate bridge club with a group of friends, which they hosted on occasion.

Anne was preceded in death by her husband, Claude, her middle son Gordon, her brothers Steve and Dave, and Dave’s partner Jack, She is survived by her daughter Tina, sons Claude (Julie) and Gar, grandchildren Nikki Curtin (Tyler Mengel), Andrew Curtin, Connor Watson (Elizabeth), Helen Watson, Amelia Watson, and great grandson Calvin Scott Watson,

A funeral service is planned for Sunday, October 12 at 3pm at All Saints Episcopal Church, 800 Abbot Rd., East Lansing.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Claude Watson Scholarship Fund at Lansing Community College, PO Box 40010, Lansing, MI 48901 or to All Saints Episcopal Church.