Leonis Dean Watson

1924 - 2015

Funeral services for longtime Collinsville resident, Leonis Dean Watson, 90, will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, January 9th, 2015, at the First Baptist Church in Collinsville. Officiates for the service will be Pastor Tim Prock and Bryan Masters. Committal and interment services will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Bartlesville. Donations may be made in memory of Leonis Dean Watson to The First Baptist Church Building Fund, 1301 West Main Street, Collinsville, OK 74021. Arrangements are entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso. www.moweryfs.com
Mr. Watson was born August 10, 1924, to Nathan Bathaniel and Etta Mae (Stricklin) Watson in Wynona, Osage County, Oklahoma. He passed away on January 6, 2015, in Claremore.
He was reared and educated in Barnsdall and graduated with the Barnsdall High School Class of 1942. He enrolled in the Allied School of Mechanical Trades in Chicago, IL in 1947 and received a diploma for Mechanical Drafting. He was a Private First Class with the US Army during WWII, from May 1943 to March 1946. He was a Medical Technician with the 9th Field Hospital in the European Theater, serving in England, France, and Belgium.
He married Doretta Maureen Stevens on April 12, 1952, in Barnsdall. They established their household in Tulsa, where he began working as a Draftsman with Southwestern Steel. He later went to work for Flint Steel Company, retiring in 1983, after 20 years of service. Some of the many projects he worked on during his career included churches in Collinsville, Owasso, Vinita, Langley and Tulsa. He also worked on projects for the Price Tower in Bartlesville, as well as the Mid-Continent Tower in downtown Tulsa.
He was a member of First Baptist Church of Collinsville for more than 51 years. He spent many years working with various Sunday school departments, doing whatever was needed.
Survivors include one sister, Ima Jean Spurgeon of Dixon, IL; three daughters, Karen Watson of Collinsville, OK, Michele Shouse and husband, Thomas, of Memphis, TN, and Carol Masters and husband, Russell, of Sand Springs, OK; two sons, Steven Watson and wife, Cindy, of Collinsville, OK and David Watson and partner, Curt Allison, of Vancouver, Canada; six grandchildren, Misty Rhodes and husband, Jarrod, of Brownsville, TN, Katie McFadden and husband, PJ, of Owasso, OK, Ryan Watson of Oklahoma City, OK, April Watson and fiancé, John Tyra, of Tulsa, OK, Bryan Masters and wife, Sarah, of Denham Springs, LA and Sarah Masters and fiancé, Sean Molloy, of St Rose, LA; four great-grandchildren, Jacob and Madison Rhodes, Jett McFadden and Londyn Masters. A fifth great-grandchild, Cruz McFadden, is due in March. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of nearly 55 years; 3 brothers, Eldon Watson, Glendon Watson and Carl Watson; and 2 nephews, Gary Watson and Jim Spurgeon.
Serving as casket bearers are Ryan Watson, PJ McFadden, Steve Watson, David Watson, Curt Allison, Jacob Rhodes, John Tyra and Joel Carpenter.