April Lynn Watson

April Lynn Watson, 50, passed away surrounded by loved ones on July 1, 2026 at her home in Pewee Valley, Kentucky. April was a brilliant, beautiful, principled, compassionate woman who radiated joy to every person she met.

She was a bicentennial baby, born in Louisville on March 13, 1976 to Terry and Jo Wathen. For much of her life, she lived in Oldham County, graduating from South Oldham High School in 1994 before getting her Bachelor of Science (Business Administration), with an Accounting major and an English minor from the University of Louisville in 2000. Her college degree is a perfect peek into the depth and breadth of her skills and passions. She excelled in Excel, and could make any ledger legible to the non-business person, with a smile that made you feel like an old friend. April’s accounting talents led her to positions with several corporations, such as Crowe, Chizek & Co., Almost Family-Caretenders, and Texas Roadhouse, before becoming the owner of her own firm. Yet, this vibrant woman with a (red)head for numbers also relished the written words of literature (novels and poetry in particular) and it was one of her few regrets that there wasn’t enough time to read more.

April treasured music live and recorded, learning from her parents the best of 1960’s and 1970’s rock at an early age. She adored animals, and throughout her life had an assortment of pets, including turtles, cats, and a dog. April enjoyed a wide assortment of pop culture, from Star Trek to Star Wars to Lord of the Rings to comic book adaptations. She had the best natural laugh, and a guaranteed way to make her giggle was to show her something with silly physical humor. April always felt at home in nature, whether it was a gentle hike in Red River Gorge or a sunset walk on a beach. Nature and fantasy blended in her delight of butterflies and fairies, as evident in her numerous tattoos and figurine collection.

April’s strongest affection, however, was love for her family and friends. She was a devoted mother to Ayla Rain and Aria Dawn, and the caring wife and best friend of Adam; they began dating in 1995 and married in 2003. Her extended family includes her sister Angela Wathen and her nephews Roland, Jovan, and Desmond, her aunts (Judy, Charlotte, Rita, Joanie, Kay, and Billie), her uncles (Bill, Lew, Phil, and Larry), and her mother-in-law Wanda Watson. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Edward Bryant and Margaret Bryant, George Wathen Sr. and Lucille Wathen, her aunts Aletha Dunaway, Sue Gaines, and Diane Bryant, and her uncles Don Bryant, Sonny Prentice, Bernie Gaines, John Mitchell, and George (Nick) Wathen Jr. The long list of April’s other relatives and deeply cherished friends is numerous.

One of the shared values of April and Adam is the teachings of Joseph Campbell, who believed in the interconnectedness of all mythology, and with it, humanity. A famous saying of Campbell, which even made it into their wedding vows, is “Follow Your Bliss.” April would like all that knew her to do the same, and when you see a butterfly or fairy, think of her. In lieu of flowers, please support a nature organization, or a political candidate or group that uplifts and protects women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights, or simply tell at least one person every day how much they matter to you.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Friday, July 17, 2026 at Arch L. Heady and Son - Westport Road Chapel (7410 Westport Road). A service to celebrate April’s life will take place the following day, Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 12:00 pm at All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Church (4936 Brownsboro Road).