Irene Doris (Cox) Watson, fondly known as “RP”, 87 years old, of Fairway, Kansas, passed away peacefully on October 22, 2020, with her two daughters and their families at her side. A visitation is scheduled from 1 – 3 PM on Saturday, October 31, 2020, at McGilley & Hoge Funeral Home in Overland Park, Kansas. Due to the pandemic, a private funeral service, which can be live streamed from the McGilley website, will follow at 3:00 PM. Memorial contributions are suggested to the KC Pet Project, to honor her love of animals.
Irene was born in Los Angeles, California on September 29, 1933, the youngest of six children. She was living in Sacramento when her beloved brother Frank introduced her to a dashing young Air Force pilot named James Ross Watson, whom she married on July 24, 1957. As an Air Force officer’s wife, Irene lived with Jim in many places, including Japan, Georgia and Illinois, where she raised their four children, oftentimes by herself for extended periods due to Jim’s overseas assignments as part of the Strategic Air Command. Irene also did her part for her country during those difficult times by hosting many returning Vietnam POWs and as a Songbird, an officers’ wives chorus organized and sponsored by the USAF. After Jim retired from the Air Force in 1976, Irene and her family moved to Jefferson City, Missouri where they and their children were finally able to settle down. They made many wonderful friends, and their children’s friends adopted Irene and Jim as second parents. Following Jim’s tragic death in 1986, Irene moved to the Kansas City area and ultimately to Fairway Kansas, to be near her son and two youngest daughters, where she met the second significant man in her life, John Pembleton, and more wonderful, lifelong friends. Irene and John happily shared their lives together for nearly thirty years, and John became a beloved member of the family.
Irene’s lifelong passion was cooking and she was one of the best at it, as any of her family and friends will attest. In fact, the three most important things in Irene’s life were family, friends and food, which is reflected in the fact that her dinner invitations were rarely declined. One of Irene’s most cherished roles was that of grandmother. She adored her granddaughters and enjoyed helping them grow into strong and kind women. Irene will also be remembered by her family and friends for her wonderful sense of humor and her intense love of QVC and HSN shopping channels, but mostly for her strong sense of right and wrong, and her warm and loving soul.
Irene is preceded in death by her husband, James Ross Watson, her daughter, Patricia (Patti) Plaster, her son, James Ross (Flash) Watson II, and her beloved poodle, ChooChoo. She is survived by her sister-in-law Shirley Cox, her daughter Diane (DeeDee) Watson Arnold and her husband Victor; her daughter Katrina (Kathy) Johnston and her husband Keith; and her grandchildren, Courtney Johnston, Mary Arnold, Hailey Watson and Hannah Watson, as well as many dear friends who are considered extended family.
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