Katherine Stickley Watson

Katherine "Kate" Josephine Watson (née Stickley) passed away in the evening hours of January 31, 2025 at the age of 86 at her home in Jackson, Tennessee. The presence of her son Hal, daughter Elise, and close friends in the days preceding her passing were a comfort to her.

Born to Vastine "Van" Frank Stickley and Mildred Wilson Stickley (née Vaden) of Cleveland, Tennessee, Kate experienced a wonderful, quintessential small town childhood. Her summers were spent lying in the grass counting shooting stars and water skiing on Lake Ocoee at the Stickley family cabin. She loved sitting in her poodle skirt with friends at the soda fountain of her father Van's pharmacy, located in Craigmiles Hall, the historic opera house in downtown Cleveland.



As a young woman, Kate graduated from Bradley High School and went on to study teaching at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. From there she went on to graduate with a Bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee (Knoxville). At UT she met H. Mitchell Watson, Jr., a mathematics major on the tennis team who courted her. With the sense of humor so essential to her character, Kate bounded away when Mitchell proposed in the park, laughing "I'll marry you, if you catch me!" Catch her he did, and the two married in 1961 at the Broad Street Methodist Church in Cleveland, Tennessee, and remained so for 63 years until Mitchell's passing in 2024.

Kate was an adventurous, fun, and creative person with an ability to reach out to others and touch their hearts. Deeply appreciative of beauty in all forms, Kate was passionate about interior design, gardening & floral arranging, and especially music. Kate was a talented soprano who sang in the choir of every church she belonged to, often offering solos which gave voice to the Holy Spirit. Later in her singing career her staged performances brought people together over an evening of American standards and conversational interludes to support charitable causes close to her heart. She was supported in every aspect of her artistic expression by her adoring husband Mitchell, who encouraged Kate's participation in vocal workshops led by renowned singer Andrea Marcovicci. Kate's musical legacy includes such performances, published CDs, children's book recordings, and plays.

Kate was also an organizer and a "doer" in the many communities in which she and Mitchell lived. She volunteered, served on committees, raised money, and had strong ideas about how to improve community life which she backed up with her time, attention, advocacy, and effort. During her time in Palm Beach she organized and led Women of the Word - a bible study group that for eight years gave women in the community a space to address issues of life and faith together.

Kate sprinkled laughter, kindness, and sincere words of encouragement grounded in her deep and lifelong Christian faith on those around her. A beloved passage of scripture that guided the life she and Mitichell built together comes from Paul's letter to the Romans in which he urged the faithful to 'share with all those who are in need, practice hospitality.' Quick to laugh at her own foibles, Kate never lost her childlike sense of joy and playfulness, a quality which still brings a smile to those who knew her well.

Kate Watson was preceded in death by her husband Harry Mitchell Watson, Jr. She is survived by her brother Robert "Bob" Houston Stickley and his wife Ruth of Greensboro, NC as well as her two children and their spouses: Harry "Hal" Mitchell Watson, III and his wife Maggie of River Falls, WI and Katherine "Elise" Elizabeth Welsch and her husband Chris of Jackson, TN. In addition she leaves behind grandchildren Maura Watson-Rocha and her husband Diogo, Joshua Welsch and his wife Faith, Garth Watson, Jessica Kate Letkemann-Welsch and her husband Jake, and Seth Watson.

Kate Watson will be interred alongside her husband Mitchell at Highland Memorial Cemetery in Knoxville, TN. A service to commemorate her memory and celebrate her life will take place on April 26, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, TN.

In lieu of gifts of flowers, please make donations in Kate's memory to Women of Hope Recovery Center, Jackson, Tennessee. Link: https://hrcwoh.com/donate/

George A. Smith and Sons Funeral Home, (731) 427-5555