Gillian C. Watts

Gillian C. Watts
March 25, 1940 - April 6, 2023
Gillian C. Watts, 83, of Albany, Oregon passed away at home on April 6, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer. Gillian, or Jill as she was known by all who loved her, was born on March 25, 1940, to Elsie and Edward Hurst. She was born in Rhyl, Wales, and spent most of her childhood in Knowle, England. This is where her lifelong devotion to horses began.
While attending Oxford University, she worked at The Atomic Energy research center at Harwell, England, where she met her future husband John Watts. Jill left Harwell to get a degree in radiography at Coventry University before returning to work at Princess Margaret Hospital in Swindon and to marry John in January of 1963.
She and John moved to the United States in 1967, landing briefly in Indianapolis before settling in the San Diego area where they built a home, a business, and a family. She naturalized as a U.S. citizen in the mid-aughts, driven in no small part by her desire to cast a vote for the first female president. In 2018, she and John relocated to Albany to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
Jill was an avid volunteer, devoting countless hours to her childrens' schools, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts, Pony Club, and Poway Valley Riders Association. She ushered for the San Diego Old Globe Theater and traveled the country judging Pony Club rallies. When her children were young, she took them to England at least once a year to visit family and explore other corners of Europe. Later in life, she and John continued to roam, visiting Canada and China among other destinations.
Friends will remember Jill's unparalleled generosity, her adventurous spirit, her admirable work ethic, and her keen sense of humor. She was famous for taking in all manner of animals and doubling or tripling their life expectancy. She did nearly everything with a signature twinkle in her eye or an infectious giggle. She had a gift for connecting with others and made friends everywhere she went. She was warm and wise and loved with her whole heart.
Jill is survived by her husband, John Watts, of Albany, Oregon, three children and their spouses, four grandsons, one niece, and her beloved pets, Sadie and Hrolfur. She is preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Linda Gregory.
A memorial service will be held Friday, April 28, 2023 at 11:30am at AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home in Albany, Oregon. Additional remembrances will be held in Poway and England in the coming months. Memorial donations may be made to the Safe Haven Humane Society in Albany.
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