Carol Sue Watson

Carol Sue Nichols Watson, age 80, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas, after a courageous battle with vascular dementia.

Carol was born to George Hart Nichols, Sr. and Myrtle Charlotte "Mickey" Nichols in Kansas City, Kansas, on April 7, 1944. The Nichols soon moved to Abilene, Texas, where Carol spent her formative years in the place that she proudly called her hometown. There, she delighted in following around her older brothers, George and Phil, and revelled in becoming a tomboy who shot BB guns, played baseball, climbed trees and collected baseball cards like they did. A proud Alta Vista Rooster and Cooper Cougar, Carol graduated high school in 1962 and stayed close to home, choosing to attend McMurry University. In 1967, she earned degrees in Spanish and English Literature, reflecting her deep passion for language and learning.

Carol's first job out of college took her to the East Texas town of Gladewater. It was a short stint, but her time there ignited a love for teaching English and Spanish in rural communities. She landed in Houston just a year later and was introduced to an Assistant District Attorney named Robert Watson. On their first date, Carol cooked pork chops and wild rice for dinner with their respective roommates and Bob fell head over heels in love. They were married two years later in her parents' Abilene home on April 21, 1971, and Bob would continue to request that very meal on a regular basis for the rest of their forty-three years together. The newlyweds moved to Bob's hometown of Mineral Wells and 1974 brought along the birth of their daughter, Shelley. Just ten short months later, Carol gave birth to their second daughter, Nikki, and the Watson family of four was complete. For the next nineteen years, Carol stayed home to take care of the girls but never missed an opportunity to teach. And when she wasn't ferrying the girls to their myriad activities, she was volunteering, coaching, cooking, golfing or playing tennis.

When Shelley and Nikki flew the nest, Carol went back to the classroom in a few small school communities, but none held her heart quite like Perrin-Whitt, where she taught and coached various grades for several years. The arrival of grandchildren and Bob's burgeoning book collection brought about her retirement but that hardly meant she slowed down. Until Bob's death in 2014, they spent many of their free days traveling in search of rare books, adding to their vast collection and accumulating more dear friends along the way. In the decade to come, Carol continued to read and travel for pleasure and relied upon her family, friends (old and new, because she never met a stranger!) and precious rescue mutts to keep her busy.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert Floyd Watson; and her brothers, David Lee Nichols, Philip Charles Nichols, and George Hart Nichols, Jr.

Carol is survived by her daughters, Shelley Leigh Juliao (Sam) and Nikki Lynne Erb; her grandsons, Michael "Cade" Fuller and Boston Hart Juliao; her granddaughters, Isabel Hart Juliao and Caroline Sue Erb; her devoted sister-in-law WT "Tootsie" Nichols; cherished nieces, nephews, and their children; and countless friends from Abilene, Mineral Wells, Weatherford, and beyond.

Those who knew Carol will forever cherish the ease in which she laughed, the delight she took in talking about her family and pets, the joy she brought to friends, new and old, and the seemingly endless generosity of her spirit. May her legacy continue to inspire and bring comfort to all who were fortunate enough to know her.

We welcome all to attend the memorial service to celebrate her life which will be held Saturday, February 15th, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at :

Annetta UMC

2836 Farm to Market 5

Aledo, Texas 76008

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Carol's name to the ASPCA.