Thelma Margaret Watson, 83, of Odessa, Missouri, passed away Thursday, January 24, 2019 at the home. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 29th at Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO; burial in Louisburg Cemetery, Louisburg, KS. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.
Thelma was born June 15, 1935, in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Fred and Viola (Strickler) Riggs. She married James C. Watson on November 30, 1954. Thelma was a wife, mother, and grandmother, and loved helping her husband on their farm, raising her 6 children, and caring for their many farm animals over the years. She was a member of Napoleon United Methodist Church and their quilting group, and volunteered for the Lafayette County Election Polls.
Thelma was preceded in death by two sons, George Watson in 2013 and Jim Watson in 2015; her parents, Fred and Viola Riggs; sister, Alberta Baker; and three brothers: Arlos Riggs, Emmett Riggs, and Elmer Riggs.
Her survivors include her devoted husband of 64 years, Jim Watson of the home; two daughters: Becky High (Roger) of Grain Valley, MO, and Connie Koch (Mike) of Newtown, CT; two sons: Fred Watson (Teri) of Lawson, MO and Don Watson (Kathy) of Holden, MO; two daughters-in-law: Marsha Watson and Alice Watson Ford, both of TX; twenty grandchildren; thirty great-grandchildren; nine nieces; and eight nephews.
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO 816-847-4441