Michael Stewart Watters

FAIRBORN Michael Stewart Watters, 64, of Luther, Oklahoma (formerly of Fairborn, Ohio) passed away on Saturday, February 2, 2013, in his home with his family at his side.

Mike was born on November 8, 1948 in Portsmouth, Ohio to James and Nell Watters. He graduated from Fairborn High School in Fairborn, Ohio in 1966, and the Ironworkers Apprentice Program in Dayton, Ohio before earning his B.A. in English Education from Langston University in Langston, OK in 1992. He married Jo Stansbury on November 28, 1968. He followed in his father's footsteps as an Ironworker beginning in 1966. In 1981, the Watters family moved to Oklahoma where Mike worked as a handyman before becoming a full-time minister at the Perry Church of Christ in Perry, OK. In the fall of 1993, Mike and Jo moved back to Ohio where Mike returned to his love of ironworking. He retired from the Ironworkers Local #290 Union Hall in December of 2010 after having served as a member of the Executive Board, Organizer for the Local #290, and Lead Organizer of the District Council of Southern Ohio Ironworkers. Mike and Jo returned to Oklahoma in the spring of 2011 to be close to their grandchildren.

Mike had a love for mission work. He served as Deacon of Missions at Central Avenue Church of Christ in Fairborn, Ohio and participated in numerous mission trips to Nicaragua. His specific interests are too numerous to list because he had such a love of learning and life.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Jo, of Luther, Oklahoma; his daughter, Sarah Bailey, and her husband, Josh, of Edmond, Oklahoma, and his granddaughters Brenna and Piper; and his siblings: Tex Watters of Blue Creek, Ohio, Jim Waters of Blue Creek, Ohio, Pat Koeppe of Enon, Ohio, and Kathi Watters of Lexington, Kentucky. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Arthur and Nell Barber Watters of Fairborn, Ohio; his daughter, Chressen Watters; and his sister, Cora (Butchie) Yezzi.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 6:00pm at Matthews Funeral Home (601 S. Kelly, Edmond, OK 73003). A memorial will be held on Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 11:00 am at the Ironworkers Local #290 Union Hall (606 Hillrose, Dayton, OH 45404).

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in memory of Mike to help support the mission work in Nicaragua that was so close to his heart. Donations can be sent to:

Nicaragua Mission Fund

c/o Central Avenue Church of Christ

922 S. Central Ave

Fairborn, OH 45324

Please make checks to Central Ave Church of Christ and write "Nicaragua Mission Fund" or "Mike Watters Memorial" in the memo line.