Mr. Francis Lloyd Watson

Let me tell you about my dad, Francis “Frank” Lloyd Watson, who died September 21, 2017. He was born January 15, 1942 in Kansas City, Missouri to Harold and Sylvia (Anderson) Watson. He spent much of his childhood visiting with many cousins and family in Brunswick, Missouri. Growing up, he went to car races with his dad and was also very involved in DeMolay. He graduated from North Kansas City High School and then went on to Central Missouri State College.

At 21 he became a member of the Alpha Masonic Lodge. He loved airplanes and while in college, he received his private pilot’s license. The best thing that happened to him in college was he met and married my mom, Elizabeth (Creel) Watson. After graduation, he worked as a Production Planner for Trans World Airlines. This gave him the opportunity to be around planes and to travel, which he also loved. He traveled extensively, loved Arizona and went there often. His most memorable trip was the one he took around the world, making stops in Rome, Paris, Athens, Ethiopia and Bangkok.

In 1970 I was born, LeAnn Watson, now LeAnn Branson. I was a daddy’s girl through and through. He taught me about racecars, sports, a love of reading and how to fix almost anything. He took me along on many adventures. (Arizona, California, New York, Boston, Washington DC, Hawaii, Mexico and many, many more.) He became interested in astronomy and joined the KC Astronomical Society and helped build the observatory in Louisburg, Kansas.

In 1991 I married James “Todd” Branson and later had 3 children. Connor Thomas, Tatum Olivia and Cooper Aubrey. He was a wonderful grandfather and he attended most of their many events through high school and college. I couldn’t have asked for a better father. My mom couldn’t have asked for a better husband and my children certainly couldn’t have asked for a better grandpa. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Dennis Watson. He leaves behind many family members past colleagues and friends.

Please join me and my family to honor my dad on Thursday, September 28, 2017. We will receive friends beginning at 5pm, with a memorial service beginning at 6pm. Memorial tributes may be directed to Alpha Masonic Lodge #659, 2121 Gentry, North Kansas City, MO 64116.

Thanks, Dad….I hope they have great hamburgers in heaven.

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I am LeAnn Branson, Frank’s only child. I would first like to thank you all for joining us here today, both family and friends alike. He would be proud of the respect you’ve shown him and honored by your presence.

My father was born…… and 75 years later he died. But those years in between would make any man proud, fulfilled and happy.

You see, standing before you is one of the luckiest people around. ME. It’s no secret my dad wanted a boy when I was born, my name was going to be Roger… but he got me, in all my 9 pound, pink dress wearing glory. It didn’t take but a minute before I was daddy’s girl.

Before I was in elementary school, my mom was a teacher, but my dad worked 2nd shift 3 pm-

11. So, I had a babysitter come to my house even though my dad was there sleeping. When he wasn’t sleeping, we had lots of fun together. We played, read books, ran errands, washed the car, ate lunch together, tended to the yard, etc. all with me tagging along by his side.

Later in my elementary school years, I so looked forward to Saturday mornings when we would run our weekly errands. Bank, Post Office, Hardware store, maybe the barber shop to get him a haircut and the list goes on.

But my FAVORITE part of Saturday afternoons was lunchtime..….. Friends, if you wanted to make my dad happy, all you needed to do was get him a hamburger with the works and French fries.

We always stopped a Johnny Ray’s hamburgers down off Blue Parkway in Lee’s Summit, which is still there today, same owners, same counter, same booths. I took my dad there a couple of years ago for Father’s Day and he couldn’t have been happier. (it was his choice…. he is a cheap date!)

As I grew my dad made sure I knew about the “important” things in life. Like football, baseball, the difference between a sprint car, midget car, formula one, Indy car and stock car. What all of the racing flags meant. Why oval tracks races were far better than road races.

Let me tell you, having a dad who works for an airline is not a bad way to grow up. Once, he woke me up on an

early Saturday morning and asked “Do you want to fly to South Dakota?” I sleepily said….” What’s in South Dakota?” He said, “A Belt Buckle I want to buy…and we can get a hamburger.” We went and were back before bedtime. We took many weekend trips to Disneyland in California. So many, I knew my way around the park. One year, I think I was maybe 11, my dad and I were walking out of the park and he said “LeAnn, did you have a good time at Disneyland?” I said “Oh, yes! I just love it” He said, “Good, because that is the last time I am taking you.” I was stunned! Why in the world would he do that to his little girl??? He decided since I was getting older, perhaps educational trips were more appropriate.

So off we went to Washington D.C. and Boston, New York and MT. Rushmore. We went to Philadelphia and the Grand Canyon and many, many more. Still great, but it’s no Disneyland.

I treasure the memories of our many trips to Phoenix to see the “big boys” race at the Indy Car Phoenix 150. My Uncle Denny and cousins Sean and Blake went with us a few times too.

I remember my Dad and Uncle Denny had SKOAL BANDITS chewing tobacco. I think they had just come out with then. Well, Blake wanted to try it really bad. He was maybe 12 years old. He was so annoying, he kept asking and asking and asking. Uncle Denny kept saying, no son. Not here. Not today.

Blake kept at it. My dad said…...Just give him one…. if he gets sick he will learn his lesson, and hey, we are outside! He tried it, thought it was terrible and was complaining and sick and green and yucky all day. I thought it was HILARIOUS! (ha…. BOYS!?? eye roll)

In 1985, when I was almost 15, my dad took me to

the “BIG ONE” The Indianapolis 500.

The Kansas City TWA employees chartered a plane, straight to Indianapolis on race day. We had a track tour, amazing seats, pit passes, the works….IT WAS AWESOME!

My dad made sure I knew the drivers, their numbers, their owners, what type of engine their car had and most importantly the significance of a perfectly timed pit stop.

My high school friends were coming to school in concert t-shirts from their weekend and I had car racing shirts. The boys at my school thought I was great! Not your typical Lee’s Summit High School girl.

Let’s talk football. I knew every professional team, every quarterback, every penalty, every offensive and defensive play, clock management, etc. I could tell you at a very young age where the team was from just by looking at their uniforms or helmets. I could also give you a few interesting facts about all the teams past or present. For example, did you know the Pittsburgh Steelers are the only team to have their logo on only one side of their helmets? My dad taught me that.

I think my dad liked to show me off and quiz me in front of his friends. It was quite impressive.

Mainly what it boils down to, friends, is my dad spent something on me that was more precious than money……He spent TIME. Loads of it. And I loved it. My

parents allowed me to do what I wanted but always have a “home base” where dinner was on the table and a game was always on.

You will notice I didn’t talk too much about his job or his character or his early life or his education or his marriage to my mom.

Most of you know he loved airplanes, his character was impeccable, his early life was filled with a large extended family and his marriage to my mother lasted over 50 years.

He did get a degree in Psychology from what is now UCM then Central Missouri State College. It took only 6 years…...and he’s not a Doctor! My mom tells me Pete’s

bar had something to do with that. Maybe he has a PHD in beer making or beer-ology??

Even though he was a fairly private man he had a wicked sense of humor, just like HIS dad, MY beloved grandpa. My dad was always flirty and just a tad inappropriate to female medical staff up until his last day. That was one of his trademark “moves”.

My father loved to learn: He was the smartest person I knew. He read constantly knowing everything from politics, literature, economics, science, mechanics, sports, history and his favorite subject, astronomy.

Let’s talk about his Handyman skills.

When I couldn’t figure out how to fix something like….the garbage disposal, all I had to do would be to call my dad and he would talk me through it over the phone. NEVER doing it for me and NEVER allowing me to call a professional. Flat tire? Get down there, LeAnn! Oil Change?? Grab the tools! No Jiffy Lube for us! Get down there, LeAnn!! Right there in the garage. (SHOW BIG HOSS) This is his favorite tool of all time… “BIG HOSS” It is probably 45 years old and it was hand made in the machine shop at TWA. He has asked me to hand him BIG HOSS probably a hundred times. When my dad passed away, I asked my mom if I could have 1 of my dad’s possessions…...BIG HOSS. Do you know what her response was? “What the heck is a BIG HOSS??” …...I am now the proud owner of my new prized possession….

it’s a screwdriver.

Let’s talk about grandkids. If you think I am the apple of my daddy’s eye, you have no idea how much he loved my 3 kids. They are all amazing. We are so thrilled that my dad got to live long enough to see his grandchildren into young adulthood.

Connor-my oldest, 25, he has always been a performer. Concerts, plays, musicals, piano recitals, too numerous to count. Then later in college at Oklahoma City University, more plays, musicals and recitals. My dad made the 6-hour road trip and came to all of Connor’s performances he could. Unlike my father, Connor graduated with 2 degrees in 4 years with honors…. and my dad said it was one of the proudest moments of his

life. Connor and my dad could talk forever about one of Connor’s favorite topics…. Shakespeare.

This past fall, he and my mom even came to hear Connor’s alternative rock band play at a bar. He said it wasn’t his cup of tea, but, as usual, he did invest his TIME.

Tatum-The only girl, 21, she has always been grandpas Princess. The day that girl was born I was officially DE-THRONED as Princess of the Family. This little bundle was grandpa’s darling from day 1. When she was little and in High School she was a cheerleader, dancer, a singer. She did plays and musicals and was on the dance team. She tried “traditional” sports like soccer and softball,

but ultimately stuck to performing arts…… because there is less running.

You bet grandpa taught her a thing or two about football, baseball, fishing and how to change a tire. Grandpa even made it up to Maryville last year to watch Tatum dance at halftime and on the sidelines as a college dancer at a Northwest Bearcat Football game. He loved wearing his Bearcat hat and shirt whenever she came over. He was always so proud of her and her accomplishments. TIME WELL SPENT

Cooper-19- “The baby”

No musicals or plays or recitals for this guy. Its sports, sports and more sports. Grandpa wanted to buy this daredevil a real racecar at age 5…. but I said no to that.

I cannot even begin to count or guess how many football and baseball games my dad has sat through watching his favorite #33 play.

On the football field, last fall, less than a year ago, Grandpa saw him make big tackles, score touchdowns, see him make amazing kicks as the starting High School punter.

In baseball, my dad saw Cooper pitch strikeout innings and catch amazing fly balls in the outfield. As a catcher, he called the pitches and made many close plays at the plate that would scare me so much it would take my breath away.

My dad was there. At every one he could go to. If he couldn’t go, he would be the first to call and ask Cooper how the game went. AGAIN, TIME.

You see, all these things he taught me comes back to a common theme. Not just when I was a baby or a school-aged child, a teenager or even an adult. TIME. TIME was what he was best at, and TIME…was what he ran out of.

My dad showed strength, courage and love right up to his last days with us.

I hope that one day, when I die, my children can look back, tell funny stories about me and talk about how I loved them and their children. But most of all I hope they also know that I have spent the most precious gift with them, just like their grandpa…...TIME.

Then, like my father, I will have led a proud, fulfilled and complete life.