Charles Edward "Charlie" Watson

Charles "Charlie" Edward Watson, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, great-great grandfather, and friend, left this earth for his eternal home on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at the age of 95. Charlie was born June 20, 1929, to Earl and Vera Watson in Denison, Texas.
Charlie was known as an entrepreneur and began his career at an early age. As a young boy, he began his day rolling and throwing newspapers before the start of school. He continued working his newspaper route until he was 15 years of age, when he decided to become a stock boy for Safeway Food Store. While at Denison High School he met the love of his life, Patsy Ruth McCarley, and their love story began. They later married in 1947 and moved to Levelland, Texas where Charlie worked in the oil fields. While there, Patsy gave birth to their first child, Kathryn Ann.
After living in West Texas for three years, they returned to the Texoma area where Charlie ran a dairy for Patsy's dad in Durant, Oklahoma. During their years on the dairy, they added to their family with Patsy giving birth to Tana Helena.
In the mid 50's. Charlie desired to own his own business, so he acquired a K&N Root Beer Stand in Sherman, Texas where his dream gave birth. Also, during this time, he and Patsy welcomed the birth of their two sons 15 months apart, Jamie Bruce and Stephen Kim. With the building of Highway 75, the K&N store was demolished, and Charlie came home to Denison where he purchased the K&N store across from McDaniel High School, later known as McDaniel Middle School. In addition to mugs of frosty root beer, Charlie and Pat began cooking their first hamburgers. It was during this time that they rechristened the root beer stand, and it became known as "Watson's Drive-in", which remains today under the ownership of their grandson, Brandon.
From this starting point, Charlie purchased Palmer's Drive-in on Austin Avenue, and it became the first ever Watsonburger location. As a restaurant entrepreneur, Charlie built Watsonburgers in Sherman, Bonham, Durant, Ardmore, Garland, and an additional one in Denison on Morton.
As the 70's came along, Charlie expanded his restaurants by opening Kim's Fried Chicken in Sherman, Bonham, Durant, Garland, and Denison. In addition, he built a successful catfish restaurant, known as the "Crow's Nest" in Denison, Texas. Throughout Charlie's life, his tenacious spirit never wavered he was always pressing forward as he pursued his goals in life.
Charlie was a member of Waples United Methodist Church and served on the board of directors for Citizens Bank in Denison. He enjoyed spending time on Lake Texoma with his family and friends and was a lifelong member of Sandy Point. At every holiday, Charlie could be found hosting family gatherings and enjoying his loved ones. He and Pat spent many years travelling with family and friends to all 50 of the states, as well as China, Germany, Canada, Australia, France, Africa, Russia, Nepal, Switzerland, and the Virgin Islands. In his spare time, Charlie found much joy and delight tinkering with his old cars that he had acquired over the years. In his later years, Charlie could always be found visiting customers while eating at Watson's for his daily noon meal; however, on Tuesdays he met "the guys" at Watsonburger on Morton. Many hours were spent there solving the world's problems with the dearest of his friends.
Charlie is survived by his daughter, Tana Morgan and husband, Gary; son, Jamie Watson; son, Kim Watson and wife, Glenda; and son-in-law, Bill Blackshear.
He is also survived by his grandchildren: Mike "T" Walker, Brianne Sims, Shawn Latona, Josh Palmore, Steven Morgan, Jada Schuster, Tyler Palmore, Brandon Watson, Bradi Watson, Whitney Allison, Chad Martin and Cassie Myers. In addition to his grandchildren, "Peepaw" was blessed to have 27 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by two nieces, Lynn Hageman and Tammy Greenbauer.
Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Vera Watson; wife, Patsy Ruth McCarley Watson; daughter, Kathy Blackshear; grandson, Clint Walker; brother, James Watson; and sister, Mary Anderson.
A celebration of Charlie's life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at Waples Memorial United Methodist Church, 830 W. Main St., Denison, TX. Interment will follow in Cedarlawn Memorial Park in Sherman, Texas. The family visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Fisher Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Quincy Allison, Shawn Latona, Steven Morgan, Josh Palmore, Ronnie Sims, and Brandon Watson.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Robert Sanders, Celebrations Assisted Living Care, Celebrations Memory Care, Visionary Home Health, and Birdie Hospice for the exceptional care Charlie received.