Jennifer Ruth Watts

Jennifer Ruth Watts, of Fort Smith, 63, passed away at Covington Court Health & Rehabilitation Center on Oct. 31, 2023. She was born in Norwalk, California, the youngest of three children born to Charles Dewey Watts, Jr. and Ruth Elizabeth Smallwood Watts. Jennifer graduated from Bell Gardens High School and shortly thereafter began working for the Fry Steel Company in Santa Fe Springs, CA at age nineteen. She remained employed there until she moved to Fort Smith, AR with her mother, Ruth, in 1989, and then worked in medical staffing for several years. Jennifer moved back to California in 2004, and worked as an accounting clerk at L&L Nursery Supply, first in Chino and then in San Bernardino, CA, until her retirement in 2019, when she returned to Fort Smith. She was a member of Saints George and Alexandra Orthodox Church.

As those who knew her best would say: Jennifer never met a stranger. She had many dear, lifelong friends who will forever cherish memories of her. Not surprisingly, her favorite books were biographies, and she always looked forward to "magazine day" each week, when she would buy a copy of People Magazine and the National Enquirer! "AJ" (Aunt Jen, as her family called her) was a longtime baseball fan, especially the LA Dodgers (her English bulldog was named for Steve Sax), and later a New York Yankees (and Derek Jeter) fan. She loved music, (especially Rod Stewart!), and enjoyed going to concerts with friends. Her favorite color was red, and her favorite flower was the tulip. Her favorite dinner was steak and lobster.

"AJ" was an avowed animal lover, especially dogs - she absolutely adored English bulldogs, having owned two of them: these included her beloved Brandy and Missy (the latter an English bulldog) when her family lived in Downey CA; Sax the English Bulldog (1989-2004), whom she owned when she and her mom Ruth lived in Fort Smith; and Buddy the terrier, whom she adopted from a neighbor in Ontario, CA.

Jennifer courageously battled many physical ailments for several years, including diabetes and heart disease. She was preceded in death by both her parents. She is survived by two brothers, Jim Watts, of Gardena, CA, and Jerry Don Watts, of Santa Fe, NM, two nieces, a nephew, and many extended family members and dear friends. Jennifer was a member of Saints George and Alexandra Orthodox Church. She will be greatly missed but fondly remembered by all who knew her.

Vigil Service at 6:00 PM on Wed., Nov. 1, 2023 and Funeral Service 9:00 AM, Thurs., Nov. 2, 2023, both at Saints George and Alexandra Orthodox Church, followed by interment at historic Oak Cemetery in Fort Smith. Arrangements are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith.