Greg Watson passed away last week. He was 60 years old.
Gregory Dwight Watson was born to Wanda Louise Cowan Watson and Carl Eugene Watson in 1962. Greg’s life was marked by resilience, hard work, and love for his family. He attended Alton schools in Alton, Missouri, and married his high school sweetheart, Marie Mock, in 1980. After high school, he moved to Oklahoma during the Elk City Oil Boom, where he was a manager at Armstrong Oil and Gas Companies. Upon returning to Alton, he co-owned the APCO gas station alongside Paul Young before serving with the Missouri Highway Department. However, Greg found his niche as a lumberman until the loss of his cherished brother, Bryan, who shared his passion for timber.
Ministry
Greg was a man of multifaceted talents, excelling as a mechanic, artist, and lumberjack renowned for his precision in felling trees. Yet, his true calling lay in preaching the gospel. Despite his failing eyesight, he immersed himself in the Scriptures, committing numerous passages to memory. Filled with the Holy Ghost, his fervent shouts echoed the legacy of Grampy John Holmes and Cecil Pete Campbell. Greg’s spiritual journey intertwined deeply with his Tree of Life church family, whom he cherished dearly.
Family
Above all, Greg’s love for his family burned bright. Preceded in death by several relatives, including his father, Carl Eugene Watson, younger brother Bryan Eugene Watson, and his beloved Marie; he is survived by his devoted mother, Wanda Louise Watson (companion, John Adams), sister Julie Renee Williams (husband, Raymond), and brother Stanley Ray Watson (wife, Jodi). His daughters and grandchildren meant everything to him: daughters Erin Marie Swift (husband Nate), Isabel Claire Smith (husband Landon), and Julie Renee Watson, along with granddaughters Willa Swift and Ivy Smith and grandson Jude Swift. Greg’s bond with Jude was particularly cherished, sharing moments on the dozer, side-by-side ATV rides, and checking cows after meeting in “their spot” after school.
Greg’s nephews, Travis and Dustin Mock, James, Trent, and Tyler Thompson, and Logan Watson, shared his love for fishing and hunting. They would listen to his stories for hours. His nieces, who fondly recall their “Uncle Tone,” include Emma (husband Joey Block), Ellie, Gracie, Audrey, and Avery Watson.
Funeral services were held at the Clary Funeral Home in Alton, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Smyrna Cemetery.
