Linda McDonald Watson

Linda McDonald Watson, 76, of Palm Bay, Florida, lost her battle to Alzheimer's on Wednesday, June 27, 2018.

Linda was born in Heltonville, Indiana, on June 4, 1942 to Forrest and Mary Helen McDonald. They were the parents of two boys, Larry and Gary McDonald, when they finally "got their girl."

Linda eventually had nine siblings including Claudia McDonald Cazee, Debbie McDonald, Steve McDonald, and Dorothy (Dottie) Sproles Hughes, Robert (Bob) Sproles, Cecil Sproles and Ronald (Ronnie) Sproles.

Linda graduated from Heltonville School where she attended first through 12th grades.

Linda married Jerry (Joe) Payton on June 24, 1960 which produced four children, Jera Payton Torres (John), Gina Payton Waggoner (Butch), Jeff Payton (Kathy) and Dan Payton (Becky).

Linda was remarried on April 3, 1993 to James (Patches) Watson.

Linda was a loyal employee to Cummins Engine Co. for 30 years. She began employment in 1972 and retired in 2003. She worked several different shifts, multiple locations and in a variety of areas. She was heavily involved as a union representative for the employees at Cummins.

Linda loved to travel and had many opportunities to do so. She traveled through most of the United States, and took a flight to Alaska, road trips to Montana, and notably a four generation road trip west and through the Rockies in 1984. She enjoyed multiple trips to Europe, including to Germany, France, the UK, and the Netherlands.

Linda also traveled to Vietnam with her husband James to tour the areas where he served our country during the Vietnam War.

Linda had a love for her country, all people and animals.

She treated everyone with kindness and had a smile and a laugh that would fill a room. She took joy in doing for others, entertaining, and had a way that would make everyone believe they were her favorite.

Linda loved to be surrounded by family, which in her eyes included both blood relatives and a multitude of others that she had accepted as her own.

She was known to enjoy dancing and singing and was always the life of the party.

You would never leave her home hungry or without a smile.

We lovingly called our mother "Our Box of Chocolates" due to her many moods while battling Alzheimer's.

In health, she was an independent and determined woman, which translated into "wandering" often from home during her seven years of Alzheimer's.

Even during her worst days, she remained kind, graceful, appreciative, affectionate and proud of her children.

Linda was a friend to everyone that she met, although her best friend and traveling buddy was her sister Dottie Ann. Dot and Mom were partners in crime, were both incredible women, amazing friends, and so much fun to be around.

Their humor was contagious and their laughter can still be heard today by anyone who witnessed it.

Linda is survived by four children; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by both of her parents, Forrest and Mary Helen McDonald; father of her four children, Joe Payton (1979), son-in-law Butch Waggoner (2010); sister, Dottie Sproles Hughes (2010), brother, Robert Sproles (2012); and husband, James Watson (2013).

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 29, 2018 at the Heltonville Christian Church at 11 a.m. There will be a reception at the church immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations, in honor of our mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend (Linda McDonald Watson) to the Alzheimer's Association by visiting www.alz.org; or Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090.