Obit of Watson, Arlis "Lynn" - Haskell County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 21 Dec 2008 Return to Haskell County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/haskell/haskell.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::NOT LISTED LYNN WATSON Published on March 17, 2003 The Santa Rosa Press Democrat Arlis "Lynn" Watson, a renaissance man who loved woodcarving and installing electric power lines as much as reading classic literature and listening to the blues, died at his Santa Rosa home after a long illness. He was 62. Born Dec. 11, 1940, in Kinta, Okla., Watson moved to San Francisco as a child, where his mother pursued work in the shipyards. He graduated from Polytechnic High School in San Francisco and later recollected being on the football team that came close to winning the city's championship game. Following a stint in the Air Force, he moved to Lake County where he made a living performing a variety of manual labor jobs. After seeing a lineman for a utility company shinny a pole, Watson decided to pursue a career installing and repairing power lines. He worked for PG&E for 29 years. "They would work 12- and 15- hour days on Saturday and Sunday and holidays until people had their power," said his wife, Carolyn Watson. "That was part of your job. People were out of power and your job was to get their power back." He worked in PG&E offices in San Francisco and Marin counties, but eventually retired from Sonoma County. Watson married Carolyn in 1973 and the pair lived in Santa Rosa. They each had three children from previous marriages. When Arlis Watson was not working, he often spent his time reading books. Family members said he loved learning so much that he decided to go back to school. He obtained an associate's degree with honors from Santa Rosa Junior College, and when he was 40 received a bachelor's degree in economics from Sonoma State University. "He would recite poetry to me," his wife said. "He's very sensitive and just interested in a lot of things." Watson had a long list of hobbies, which included trap shooting, raising bonsai trees, making walking sticks, martial arts, baseball, following the 49ers and a good glass of zinfandel. In addition to his wife, Watson is survived by sons Arlis Watson of Forestville, Joseph Watson of San Antonio and Tom Jones of Omaha, Neb.; daughters, Kimberly Weber and Amanda Boes of San Antonio, and Karla Jones of Long Beach; 12 grandchildren; and five siblings. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, 9000 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood. Donations in his memory may be made to the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Service in Sonoma County, 8800 Green Valley Road, Sebastopol 95472. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Haskell County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/haskell/haskell.html