William Barton Watson

William B. "Bill" Watson Bill Watson, age 87, a resident of Centralia, Missouri, went to his heavenly home on Wednesday, December 19, 2012, at the Stuart House, Centralia, Missouri. Bill was born the son of Claude and Pearl (Hartman) McPherson on July 27, 1925 in Fort Cobb, Oklahoma. His mother died shortly after he was born and was raised by his uncle and aunt, David and Annie Watson in Lawrence, Kansas. In 1940, he became the second boy to earn the Eagle Scout award in Lawrence. He was a 1942 graduate of University High School in Lawrence. After serving his Country in the Navy in the South Pacific during World War II, he moved to Chillicothe to attend Chillicothe Business College where he graduated in 1947 and met the love of his life, Jenell. On July 10, 1949, he was united in marriage to Ruth Jenell Cowan in Chillicothe, Missouri. They were married for over 56 years. He was a Scoutmaster for Chillicothe Boy Scout Troop 120 and held various other positions within the Troop. He received the Silver Beaver award and was on the Finance Committee for the Pony Express Council. In 1991 he received the God and Service Recognition from the Commission for Church and Youth Agency Relationships in cooperation with the United Methodist Church and Boy Scouts of America. Additionally, all of his sons and one grandson earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Bill was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Chillicothe, Laurie, and Centralia, Rotary Clubs. He is a former member of the Chillicothe VFW as well as the Vern R. Glick Post 25 and the Centralia American Legion Post. He was a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was a bookkeeper for the Coby Oil Company in Chillicothe until Ketchie Welch offered him a job as a Cashier at Citizens National Bank. Over his 38 year career with Citizens Bank & Trust he became an Officer and later a Director of the Bank. He retired in 1992 to Sunrise Beach, Missouri and in 2007 moved to Centralia, Missouri. He is survived by three sons, David Watson, of Lewisville, Texas; Larry Watson and wife Carol of Kirkwood, Missouri; and Michael Watson and wife Jenny, of Centralia, Missouri; one brother, AB McPherson, Oklahoma City; nine grandchildren, Jeffrey Watson and wife Robin, Brittany Watson, Chandra Bowerman, and husband James, Sean Shea, Jerry Wetrich, Rob Watson, Bryan Watson, Jon Watson, Anna Watson, Katherine Watson, Sarah Watson; three great-grandchildren, Trinity, Chris, and Briana Bowerman and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Saturday, December 22, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. A scheduled visitation will be held at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Friday, December 21, 2012, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friends may call at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Friday, December 21, 2012, from 12 noon until 9:00 p.m. Burial will be held at Evergreen Cemetery, Braymer, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the Boy Scouts of America Troop 120 or the Alzheimer's Association and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhome.com . Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.