Keith Watson

1982 - 2023

Keith Watson
January 21, 1982 - June 21, 2023
Fort Worth, Texas - Keith William "Bill" Watson, 41, of Fort Worth, passed away on June 21, 2023 after a two-year struggle with cancer.
Bill attended K-12th grade at Fort Worth Country Day, where he played piano in the jazz band, participated in musicals, and was an engaged student in mathematics and languages. After graduating from FWCDS, Bill attended TCU, where he earned a political science degree - but not before playing triangle in the TCU Symphony for long enough to meet his future wife, Becca. Bill and Becca were married on December 22, 2003, and stayed in Fort Worth to graduate from TCU before moving to New Orleans, where Bill had been accepted into the law school at Tulane University. He earned his J.D. there in 2009 and was selected as editor of the Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law. In 2011, he received an LLM in international and comparative law from George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C.
After graduation from GWU, Bill worked as a trade policy analyst with The Cato Institute. His research focused on U.S. trade remedy policies, disguised protectionism, and the institutional aspects of global trade liberalization. He managed Free Trade, Free Markets: Rating the Congress, Cato's online database that tracks votes by Congress and its individual members on bills and amendments affecting the freedom of Americans to trade and invest in the global economy. In 2016 he became a fellow at R Street Institute, where he researched patent litigation and trade law reform as a contributor to the ITC Policy Project.
All of Bill's work experiences and education paled in importance to him in comparison with the building of his family. Harriet Ruth was born in 2010, followed by Bruce Whitten in 2011 and William Arthur in 2013. He was incredibly excited to have children and actively embraced every stage and activity of parenthood. He read aloud, changed diapers, played silly games, watched their movies with them, practiced violin and cello alongside them, and cheered them on at every recital, swim, or soccer practice. He was enormously proud of them.
Bill was a cheerful and good-natured person who loved a good book and a quiet moment outdoors. He travelled the world, both with various members of his family and on his own. He always took in the essence of the local culture, bringing back stories that could make you feel you'd been there. Increasingly handy around the house, in 2020 he embarked on the project of re-making a pop-up camper, and succeeded in creating a camping haven for his family. He loved Saints and TCU football and Texas Rangers baseball, watching Dragonball Z, playing the piano and listening to jazz, and reading fantasy novels. Studying geo-political boundaries was a favorite hobby, as was eating a good meal.
No description of Bill would be complete without mentioning that he was a faithful member of his Christian community. He dealt with his diagnosis of metastatic renal cell carcinoma in 2021 with grace, trusting that God had a plan for him and for his family. Never once did he express fear or uncertainty, instead exuding a spirit of calm, acceptance, and spiritual confidence throughout his illness. He spent much of his time in his final months comforting others, easing their anxiety for him, and confirming to them that he was on the right path.
The absence of such a man, who made for us an ideal husband, father, son, brother, and friend, will be sorely felt for many years to come.
Bill was predeceased by his grandparents, Bill and Billye Whitten and Asa and Betty Wayne Watson, all of Fort Worth. He leaves behind his wife, Becca, and their children Harriet, Bruce, and Arthur; his mother, Peggy Whitten Watson; his father, Keith Watson; his brothers Collins Watson of Fort Worth and Richard (Mary Esther) Watson of Birmingham; parents-in-law of 20 years Tom and Laurie Grammer; sister-in-law Brooke Frame and brothers-in-law Allen (Kacy) Grammer and Luke (Rebecca) Grammer; adoring aunt Becky Whitten Provenza of Albuquerque; aunt and uncle Rob and Julie Watson of Fort Worth; loving cousins Becca (Jon) Owen of Albuquerque, John (Liz) Suarez of Denver, Sarah (Charlie) Ofner of Houston, Kent (Emilie) Watson of Fort Worth, Jeff Watson of Fort Worth, and Michelle Provenza of Hattiesburg. Also grieving are nephews and nieces James, John Robert, and Billye Anne Watson, Taylor, Chloe, Max, and Ryder Frame, and Benjamin Grammer.
To honor Bill's memory, we are holding a celebration of his life on August 7, 2023 at 10:00 in the morning, at Southside Church of Christ in Fort Worth. We invite all who knew him, or knew his family, to attend and remember his unique spirit and wonderful life.