Ellen "Jane" Watson

1919 - 2010

An artist whose gentle, loving, and gracious nature was demonstrated by the way she lived her life.
Jane Watson, 91, died peacefully on Friday, October 29th at the Azalea Trace Lifecare Facility in Pensacola, Florida.
She is survived by her four children: Ellen Watson Vinson (Roger) and Mary Watson Inman (Jim) of Pensacola, Florida; Patrick B. Watson, Jr. (Nan) of San Antonio, Texas; and Jane Watson Windsor of Sarasota, Florida. She also leaves her nine beloved grandchildren, Cate Merrill (Collier), Patrick Jennings (Kim), Matt Vinson (Brantlee), Joey Vinson (Bradley) of Pensacola; Todd Vinson (Jennifer) of Chicago; Maggie Windsor of New York City; Hallie Watson, Beau Watson, and Will Watson of San Antonio, as well as ten cherished great-grandchildren.
She was the elder daughter born to George William Frederick Smith and Ellen Katherine O'Donoghue Smith in Dayton, Ohio, on March 6, 1919. When Jane was twelve, her mother died and she and her younger sister, Patty, moved in with their Aunt Mary Agnes O'Donoghue, a resourceful woman from whom she would draw her strength and example. Jane was an alumnus of Ohio State University, with a major in Fine Arts, and a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. Among other honors, she was the Ohio State University Mako Queen, and was recognized for her beauty, both inside and out.
Three days after Pearl Harbor, she married her college sweetheart, Lt. John Lawrence Porter, of Tiffin, Ohio, who was then a pilot in the Army Air Corps. His flying squadron was eventually assigned to the China-Burma theater, where he organized and commanded an air rescue unit. Capt. Porter's plane was shot down by the Japanese on the couple's second wedding anniversary, December 10, 1943, and his body was never recovered.
Jane was a fashion model in New York City with the Harry Conover Agency. Then, and throughout her life, people commented on her remarkable beauty and gracious nature. Jane was the leading model for a number of national advertisers, including Nieman-Marcus in Dallas. She also was the model for several patriotic wartime recruiting posters, notably the U.S. Marines Women's Reserve, So Proudly We Serve.
On June 26, 1944, she married Major Patrick Boisseau Watson, U.S. Army, of Tampa, Florida, and spent the next 25 years of her married life as an Army officer's wife. They were among the first Americans in occupied Yokohama, Japan in early 1946. The Army sent them all around the world, living in 15 different locations. After Col. Watson's retirement from the Army in 1969, she and Pat moved to Sarasota, Florida, where they lived for 32 years. Following Pat's death, she moved to Pensacola in 2001 to be closer to two of her daughters and their families.
Jane was a prolific artist wherever she lived, and was well known for her work with oils, watercolors, and mixed media. She regularly won awards for her exceptional work, including a Best of Show at age 86 during the annual Members' Show at the Pensacola Museum of Art.
Jane was an avid tropical plant and flower gardener. She enjoyed her vast variety of stylish wide brimmed hats and her classic Mercedes diesel sedan. She was also very proud of her Irish ancestry, her Kappa sisters, and (of course) her family. Most importantly, she was a spirit-filled Christian with a strong and enduring faith.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Col. Patrick Boisseau Watson, U.S. Army Ret., by her only sister, Patty Smith Lutzweit of Sunnyvale, California, and by her dear friend, Dr. Keener Tippins.
A very special thanks to Covenant Hospice, the Azalea Trace Oakbridge Terrace staff, and Dean Oosse McKinnis for their loving care of our dear mother.
Visitation will be at the Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, 2276 Airport Blvd., Pensacola, Florida, from 5 to 7 pm, on Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010. Services will be on Wednesday morning , November 3rd 2010 at 10:30 o'clock at the First Baptist Church of Pensacola, followed by burial at Barrancas National Cemetery at Naval Air Station Pensacola.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 Jefferson Street, Pensacola, FL 32502; the Pensacola Children's Chorus, 46 E. Chase Street, Pensacola, FL 32502; First Baptist Church Music Ministry, 500 N. Palafox, Pensacola,FL 32501; the Fine Arts Society of Sarasota, P.O. Box 1432, Sarasota, FL 34230; or the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 881 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236.