Espy Garner Watts

Services for Espy Garner Watts, 86, of Lufkin, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 30, 2015 at First Presbyterian Church, with Dr. Brian Wiggins officiating. Interment will follow at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at Brookside Cemetery in Houston.

Mr. Watts was born July 31, 1928, in New London, Arkansas, the son of the late Octavia (Garner) and Will E. Watts. He passed away Saturday, April 25, 2015 in a local Hospice facility.

At 18 months, he and his family moved to Houston, where he lived until his retirement in 1980 when he moved to Lufkin. He was a school teacher at Fonville Jr. High School and Scarborough High School, and retired from Houston ISD with 21 years of service.

Espy was a member of The Kiwanis Club and founder of BESCO Security Company. Espy was a life-long Presbyterian and elder. He loved his church very much. Espy cherished his friends and family and leaves behind many who adored him. Music played a big role in his life. He was a member of First Band of Houston; member of the choir and choir director of St. Giles Presbyterian Church, Houston; First Presbyterian Church, Lufkin; Band member and Drum Major of Reagan High School in Houston. He graduated from Sam Houston State Teacher’s College with a degree in business and was a Bearkat cheerleader.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Betty Grace Selman Watts; two sons and families, Espy Gregg Watts and Georgia, Jim Alan Watts (deceased) and Patricia Reichert; three grandchildren, Jennifer Karlstrom and Olle, Jason Watts, and Ian Reichert Watts; three great-grandchildren, Signe, Helena and Lars (all Karlstroms), of Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Espy’s memory may be made to the First Presbyterian Church choir, 607 Jane Way, Lufkin, Texas 75901.

Pallbearers will be Jason Watts, Ian R. Watts, John Hurt, Jeff Bondy, Mike Murphrey, and David Oates

Honorary pallbearers will be Bobby Hurt, Olle Karlstrom, Howard Daniel, Loyd Witt, Arturo Rodriquez and Rush Studinski.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.