Patricia Lee Watson

Patricia Lee Watson (Pat), 85, passed away Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the Maple Grove Senior Living facility in Shelbyville, Kentucky with her daughter by her side. She was born December 10, 1940, in Shelbyville to the late Addison Jesse Yunt and Edna Broce Yunt.
Pat was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. While she spent much of her life fulfilling her desire to be a housewife and mother, her life was so much more than that. She married her beloved "sailor boy" Bruce in 1956 and left Kentucky to live in Paris, France for over 2 years, which fostered her never ending love of Paris. She learned French while there, had her first child there and embraced the beginning of her role of military wife with honor. Bruce and Pat continued their military life being stationed in Connecticut, Illinois, Virginia, Rota Spain, Washington State and back to Connecticut for one last time before military retirement. During this time, Pat had 3 more children, learned Spanish, and managed a full household, often alone while her husband was at sea, with strength, grace and a natural wisdom that she became known for. After retirement the family moved to Versailles, Kentucky to be close to "home" and Pat remained a resident of Versailles until the time she had to move to a nursing home.
Pat's homes were always a place full of love, laughter, singing and delicious food. Her singing voice was beautiful, her humor was sharp and intelligent, and her cooking rivaled any trained chef...and she cooked and fed so many folks over the years! Meals became the heart of her family. Under her guidance, her children all became accomplished cooks as well, and throughout the years, family travel and vacation stories always started with "what did you all eat?"
Pat worked many jobs over the years and was known in the workplace as a dependable and quick learner and problem solver with positive and fair leadership skills. Not only did she quickly learn French and Spanish while living abroad, but she also decided to learn sign language and picked that up with ease as well. She was a beautiful writer and teller of stories. Many Versailles residents came to know her as a frequent "Letter to the Editor" contributor for The Sun and Steve Peterson, long time Sun Editor, expressed respect for her contributions and was known to even use her letters as opinion pieces from time to time. As her voice grew quieter in her later years, many Versailles residents often expressed that they missed seeing her insights on our community in the paper.
Pat was an historian, passionate about genealogy research, a devoted supporter of the military and our country. While she was personable and caring of others, she also had an introverted side that kept her home to herself and her thoughts. In later years she developed a social media presence that led her to share her wit and knowledge with others. Many on her most beloved site have shared that her stories, wisdom and historical knowledge will be greatly missed.
She was a long-time member and women's leader of Glens Creek Baptist Church and devoted much time as a Sunday school teacher and to many other church activities until her health no longer allowed her to do so.
The early loss of her husband Bruce, at the age of 58, impacted the remainder of her life. The loss of his strength and love was something she never got over. Their marriage and devotion to each other and their family was something their children cherished and learned from as they became spouses and parents themselves. They were a team that provided all the love, guidance and sense of family a kid could hope for.
But mostly, Pat will always be known as "Mom" "Ma" or "Mawsey" to her kids, "Grandma Pat" to her grandkids and their friends, "GG" to her great-grand kids, and she was "Trish" to her beloved husband, Bruce.
Pat will lovingly be remembered by her children, Walter Bruce (Huê) Watson, Jr. of Pensacola, Florida; Doug (Julie) Watson of Midway; Jeff Watson of Frankfort; and Debra (Brad) Mitchell, of Versailles. Grandchildren Addison (Hannah) Mitchell; Aaron (Jessica) Mitchell; Franklin (Mary) Watson; Gregory Watson; Marcus Watson; True Owens; Anne (Chris) Carroll-Sherman; Stephen (Rebecca) Kireta; and Michael Watson. Greatgrandchildren, Wren Mitchell, Calvin Mitchell, Josephine Watson, Christa Sherman, Andrew Kireta, and Charlotte Kireta; and many dear nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Walter Bruce Watson Sr., parents Addison and Edna Yunt, parents-in-law Willie Edwin and Ernestine Watson, Brother Chester Yunt and sister-in-law Lucille Yunt.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 22 at Blackburn and Ward Funeral Home, with her family conducting the services. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service. A private interment will follow the ceremony at Bagdad Cemetery in Shelby County. Pallbearers will be her Grandchildren, Addison Mitchell, Aaron Mitchell, Frank Watson, Greg Watson, Marcus Watson and True Owens. Flowers can be sent to the funeral home and memorial contributions are requested to be made in Pat's honor to Military Missions, 570 Delzan Place, Suite 10, Lexington, Kentucky 40503. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and leave messages of condolence here on Pat's tribute wall.