Mary Jane Watson

1942 - 2012

Sept. 11, 1942 to Nov. 5, 2012

Mary Jane Watson was born Mary Jane Heathman to Marie and Ed Heathman in Shelby County Missouri and younger sister to Charles E. Heathman . The family soon moved to an Illinois farm where Mary Jane started her schooling in a one room country school. She loved growing up on the farm and raised sheep and cattle in the 4H program while beginning to ride horses at a young age, becoming a confirmed country girl.

She met her high school sweetheart at a local street movie night her freshman year. Six years later she married this sweetheart, Randolph Grant Watson, in June, 1962, just two days after he was commissioned in the United States Navy and one day after his graduation from the University of Illinois. This embarked her on the life of a Navy wife.

After short stints in Pensacola, Fla., and Corpus Christi, Texas, their first "permanent" station was Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md. There they welcomed their first son Matthew. Further along the travels son Bruce joined them while Randy was studying at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.

While Randy was in the Navy, Mary Jane kept herself very busy making friends around the country and was actively involved in churches along the way.

In 1976, following several years in San Diego the family moved to Thousand Oaks where Mary Jane became involved in youth ministry at Bethany Church while Randy finished his Navy career at Point Mugu.

With the stability of life after moving around the country, she rekindled her country girl spirit and love of horses. She worked as riding club manager at Southern California Riding Club (SCRC) while she rode hunter jumper horses competitively and worked horse show offices from Northern California to Orange County. She became integral to the Tri-Valley Horse Show Association and volunteered tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure horse shows ran smoothly.

She also spent as much time as she could with her four grandchildren, John and Greer (Matthew and wife Vicky) and Sabrina and Teg (Bruce and wife Jaimie) sharing with them the love of the horse barn.

Her passions included modeling a strong meaningful life and love of God and family as well as creating and maintaining a beautiful garden at her home. This was evident in awards she won for landscaping at horse shows.

Mary Jane's Jack Russell Terrier, Sarge, was always with her at the barn and was an integral part of her life. She was always concerned with the welfare of family and friends more than her own, evidenced by statements she made when she knew she would reach her heavenly home before her loved ones. During her last few days she selected as her verses of scripture 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Mary Jane's life will be celebrated at 2 p.m., Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, at Cornerstone Community Church, 2080 Winifred Street, Simi Valley, CA 93063, Tel. 581-9532.

Arrangements made with the assistance of Griffin Family Funeral Chapels, Thousand Oaks.