Eileen Y. Watson

With much love and sorrow, we share that Eileen Y. Watson, 88, formerly of Spartansburg, PA, passed away on Thursday September 25th, 2025, at Summa Hospital in Barberton, OH. She was surrounded by her family and loved ones.
Born on July 16, 1937, in Spartansburg, PA, the oldest daughter of the late Gerald and Anna Belle (Northup) Edwards, Eileen lived a life of light and beauty wherever she went.
Eileen was raised and educated in Spartansburg, PA and graduated from Spartansburg High School in 1954. After high school, she attended Edinboro College for a semester. On August 4, 1956 she married William F. Watson Jr. in Couer d' Alene, Idaho and they started a family.
Eileen lived a life of adventure, as she traveled many places with her late husband, Bill (William). He was in the U.S. Air Force and they were stationed at various locations including, Washington State, Florida, Oklahoma, and even Germany, before settling in Corry, Pennsylvania to raise their five children.
Her main priority was raising and caring for her family. Once her children were all in school, Eileen began working in Northeast, PA during the grape season, tying and picking grapes. She worked in the delicatessen at IGA in Corry for several years, before working 10 years in the meat department at the Corry Loblaws. She retired in 1979.
She was a hard worker, but also had an eye for beauty and knew how to cultivate it through her creativity. She crafted beauty with her hands. She taught herself to do caning and wicker work and ran her own small home business, "Eileen's Wicker Works". She was talented with sewing, knitting and crocheting. She also loved flowers and her flower beds and yard were always beautiful. In her later years, she loved birds and always kept bird feeders outside her window so she could enjoy watching them.
Eileen loved and was greatly loved by her fourteen grandchildren. She was so proud of all of them. She spent a great deal of time with them as they were growing up, often having them for overnights, taking them on trips and making special memories together at her home on Spirit Hill, or at their camp in Spartansburg, PA. She ensured each one felt loved, and cherished by her in special ways.
Eileen had an adventurous spirit. She loved the sunshine and warmth of Florida, and the dry desert climate of Arizona, where after their retirement, she and Bill spent their winters to escape the cold and snow of Pennsylvania. They made many friends from all over the United States at Carefree Manor in Apachee Junction, AZ and were actively involved in the community there. They traveled in their motorhome and visited 49 of the 50 states.
Eileen loved to dance and she and Bill attended many dances together in the Corry area. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Corry and also attended Sparrow Pond Church in Waterford, PA. She was a member of T.O.P.S. and made many friends there. She also was a member of the Corry Hospital Auxiliary and volunteered at the hospital gift shop.
Her light and laughter will be missed by many, as Eileen also had a fun sense of humor. She liked to brag that she was "3rd in her class", but would purposefully leave out that there were only eleven students in her graduating class. She remained close with her classmates and they had annual class reunions well into their 80's. Even in her last hours she had her family laughing with her wonderful sense of humor.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William F. Watson Jr; son-in-law, Harold Fox; sister, Aleta Pattison and two brothers, Mike Edwards and Dana Edwards who died in infancy.
She was also proceeded in death by her close friend Bernie Gluvna whom she spent several happy years with after her husband's death.
Eileen is survived by four daughters, Laural (Lolly) Baker of Dandridge, TN, Lisa Fox of Corry, PA, Lorri (Will) Barton of Akron, OH and Leslie (Tom) Spock of Land-O-Lakes, FL; son, William F. (Carol) Watson III of Clymer, NY; two sisters, Elaine Hanks of Cambridge Springs, PA and Ellen Austin of Wheelock, PA and two brothers, Duane Edwards of Centerville, PA and Dale Edwards of Beaverdam, PA.
She is also survived by 14 grandchildren. Paul Baker, Adam Baker, Erica Smith, Jody Fox, Brandon Fox, Kurtis Fox, Jamie Rasey, Scott Rasey, Mari Hasinski, Rachel Lepper, Tommy Spock, Alex Spock, Randi Watson and Morgan Mount. Additionally, she is survived by 38 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren and 16 nieces and nephews.
Eileen's final years were spent at Brookdale Senior Living in Barberton, OH. She was much loved by the residents and staff and was very involved in the daily activities there. She leaves behind her very special friend Lee Shreckengost who loved her and misses her dearly.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service at Corry Alliance Church, 711 Hatch St, Corry, PA 16407 on Thursday, October 30th at 11 am. There will be a luncheon following the service and then burial will take place in Rose Hill Cemetery, Spartansburg, PA.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer's Association of America.
Arrangements are under the care of Bracken Funeral Home, Inc., 315 N. Center St, Corry, PA 16407.
To sign the guest book or send condolences, please visit www.brackenfh.com. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Eileen, please visit our floral store.