John Cleveland Watson

John Cleveland Watson, D.D.S. John Cleveland Watson passed peacefully from this life at home on Friday, October 29, 2010 after a valiant ten-year battle with prostate cancer. He was born on May 18, 1935, the eldest child of Dr. Otis C. Watson and Beatrice Lundgren Watson. A lifelong resident of Austin he was a descendant of some of the earliest Travis County settlers. He was a graduate of Austin High, attended the University of Texas, and graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1961 and practiced Dentistry in Austin for 49 years. On June 20, 1952 he married his high school sweetheart Jeanine Brown and they were married for 35 years until parted by her death in 1987. On March 10, 1990 he married Sue Beasley and they were married for 20 years. He grew up in West Austin on Bridle Path when it was a gravel road and told many fascinating stories about the early days of West Austin, how he would ride his horse all the way to Lake Austin without seeing a house, or the times his father's bull would escape the pen and run through the neighborhood terrorizing the neighbors. His mother was fond of recalling that her grandfather owned the "first car" in Austin. John was an avid outdoorsman and hunted and fished all his life and instilled this passion in his children with family vacations to Port Aransas for deep sea fishing and countless hunting trips to many destinations, especially his ranch in South Texas for many adventurous days of hunting followed by nights of informative and enjoyable hunting tales. As a young man John was an accomplished guitar player and would often entertain family and friends singing and playing his guitar at parties and family gatherings. He was a member of the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, and a lifetime member of the Capital Area Dental Society. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and member of Hill City Lodge No.456, the Ben Hur Shrine and the Royal Order of Jesters. John was a loving father, grandfather, husband and friend who had an exceedingly strong will to live that inspired all. He is preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his 4 children Jeanine Brown Watson, father Dr. O.C. Watson, mother Beatrice Lundgren Watson, and sister D'Anne Watson Tetens. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Sue Beasley Watson, sons Steve Watson, David Watson and wife Rhonda, Dr. Brian Watson and wife Ana; daughter Meisha Watson Gordon; granddaughters Lori Watson Hill and husband Jay, Shanna Gordon Patmore and husband Chuck, Karly Gordon, Kyndal Gordon, Zoe Watson, Blair Watson, Brooke Watson, Bailey Watson; and grandson Dylan Watson; step-daughter Connie Julian and husband Greg, step-grandchildren Cody and Mallory Julian; brother Luke Watson and wife Nancy and uncle Leonard Lundgren. Also surviving him is John's lifelong friend Dr. L.E. "Lee" Arnold. If John said it once he said it a hundred times that "no one could ever have a better friend than Lee Arnold". Words cannot express the heartfelt gratitude, respect and admiration that the Watson family has for Lee Arnold. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 1, 2010 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. A private family service will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78759. Obituary and guestbook available online at www.wcfish.com