Linda Watson (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Linda Watson, daughter of Claud and Pearl Gannaway Watson, was born May 15, 1943, in the family home on Clark Street in Lebanon, Missouri. She departed this life Sunday, February 24, 2013, in her home, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of sixty-nine years, nine months, and nine days.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, Stanley and Nelson Watson.
Linda is survived by three sisters, Margaret Watson, of Springfield, Missouri, Peggy Watson, and Karin Anthony, and her husband, Paul, all of Lebanon, Missouri; a sister-in-law, Irene Watson, of Lebanon, Missouri; two nieces, Kathie Wehner, and her husband, Bob, and Susan Saling, and her husband, Bill; three nephews, Steve Anthony, and his wife, Glenna, Brian Anthony, and Jeff Anthony; two great-nieces, Sarah and her husband, Brian, and Parker Anthony; seven great-nephews, Nick, Adam, Sean, Alec, Chase, Reid, and Grayson; two great-great-nephews, Sam and Caden; a great-great-niece, Alex; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends.
She was born the youngest child and joined two brothers and three sisters. She graduated from Lebanon High School in the Class of 1961. She moved to Texas in 1964, to live with her sister, Margaret, and joined Margaret in working for American Airlines. They worked in various positions and both retired from American and moved to Springfield in 2003, where they could be closer to family and still travel as often as they wished.
Linda was raised in the First Christian Church of Lebanon.
She loved to travel and, along with her family and friends, traveled all over the world. She even traveled to Australia by herself. No matter which family members she traveled with, whether her mother, brothers, and sisters, she always had a good time. She even took two of her nephews to Disneyland when they were very young.
Linda loved the New York Yankees, especially Mickey Mantle, and even called herself Linda “Mickey” Watson when she was still in school. She made many trips to New York to see the “Old-Timers” baseball games. The highlight of one of these trips was on her return flight, when Mickey was sitting in first class next to Margaret, and offered her the signed baseball from the game. Margaret told him she really didn’t care much for baseball but her sister, who was sitting in that section, was one of his most avid fans. She called Linda to come to her and he gave her the ball. Linda told him how much of a fan she was and gave him her business card and told him if she could ever help him regarding travel, to just call her. She probably could have flown home without the plane, she was so happy. She had the ball sealed and displayed in her bedroom for many years. The rest of the story was even better. Several days later, she received a call from her office and the person who had answered the call was laughing and said Mickey Mantle was on the phone and had asked for Linda. She thought it was some nut calling. Linda answered the phone and Mickey said “Ma’am, I was going to take my suit to the cleaners and I found your card in the pocket, and wondered why I had it.” Linda explained it to him and he thanked her and hung up. Needless to say, that was one great day at the office for Linda.
Linda was part of a wonderful, close-knit family. Although by today’s standards, we would be considered poor, we would not trade the good times we had for anything. From our Mother’s wonderful cooking, fishing trips with cane poles and bobbers, playing Rook, to our unbelievable Christmas times that our Dad so enjoyed, we will always remember the Watson family as something very special.
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