Genevieve A. “Gene” Watson, age 88, of 420 Elm Street, Gladstone, MI died Friday November 4, 2005 at the St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba following a lengthy illness.

Genevieve was born July 16, 1917 in Marion, Indiana the daughter of Charles O. and Della E. (Ferguson) Watson, and was a 1935 graduate of the George Washington High School in Indianapolis. Gene later moved to Detroit, MI in 1941 where she worked in the S.S. Kresge main office. During WW II she worked two and a half years in a war plant. She also had worked for Montgomery Wards in Detroit. In 1947 she moved to Gladstone with her mother Della and became partners with her brother Rolland “Ron” and his wife Eunice of the Gladstone Delta Reporter. Following the sale of the newspaper in 1975 Gene continued working for the Delta Reporter writing obituaries and featured articles on the community. She also continued to take pictures for the Reporter and was known by many as the “picture lady”.

Gene was a member of the Memorial United Methodist Church in Gladstone where she taught Sunday School, served on the Evening Service Church Guild, helped coordinate for funeral luncheons, and made phone calls to parishioners to bring muffins for the Sunday coffee hour. She also gave many rides to elderly members of the church for many years until she was unable to drive anymore.

Gene was an active member in the community of Gladstone where she served on the Gladstone Beautification Committee, 4th of July Committee, Board of Directors of the Delta County Historical Society, and was honored as Grand Marshal of Gladstone’s Fourth of July Parade a few years ago. She also was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and Gladstone Child’s Welfare Club. Gene cherished playing games and card games especially Scrabble, Greedy and Euchre. Her hobbies included photography, growing plants, gardening, raising birds and fish. Gene’s dogs, Augie and Mac were especially important to her and she enjoyed babysitting other people’s animals. Gene especially enjoyed spending time with her family, especially the small children.

Survivors include:

5 nephews: C. Thomas (Kristy) Watson of Baimbridge Island, WA; Dr. D. John (Bonnie) Watson of Colora, MD; Donald (Helen) Goff of Warsaw, IN; Jerry (Barbara) Goff of North Webster, IN; Maurice (Vicky )Goff of Peru, IN

4 nieces: Marianne (John) Milkowski of Cedarville, MI; Janice Watson of Gladstone, MI; Roberta (David) Johnson of Gladstone,MI; Dr. Judith (William) Watson-Olson of Gwinn, MI

12 great nieces and nephews: John M. (Janet) Sutter of Brimley, MI; Christian A. (Christine) Sutter of Drummond Island, MI; Shari G. (George) Nye of Phoenix, AZ; Jeffrey A. Sutter of Norway, MI; Mark E. (Kathryn) Johnson of Lansing, MI; Krista K. (Thomas) Hampton of Kalamazoo, MI; Benjamin J. (Heather) Watson of Savannah, GA; Daniel M. (Natalie) Watson of Colora, MI; Gretchen L. (Ben) Heavner of Anchorage, AK; Susan L. (Adam) Fisher of Lansing, MI; Lindsay A. Watson of Land-O-Lakes, WI; Tomoko Inoue of Gwinn and Japan

13 Great great nieces and nephews: Tina I. Sutter, Clifford Sutter; John M. “Jack” Sutter Jr.; Chrisian A. “Cory” Sutter Jr., Jesse A. Green; Shane Sutter; Cole D. Sutter; Cedric Nye; Justin Nye; Tyler C. Hampton, Emma S. Hampton; Anna K. Johnson and Nicholas D. Johnson.

4 Great great great nieces and nephews: Christian A. Sutter III; John M. Sutter III; Bryanna L. Nye and Harold Nye.

In addition to her parents Charles and Della, Genevieve was preceded in death by:

Sister: Hazel and her husband Roger Goff

3 Brothers: Rolland and his wife Eunice Watson and Ovid and Harold Watson

Visitation is scheduled for Sunday November 27, 2005 from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Memorial United Methodist Church in Gladstone. Funeral services celebrating the life of Genevieve A. Watson will follow at 4:00 P.M. at the church with Rev. Joanne Bartelt officiating. Luncheon will follow in the church fellowship hall. Burial will be in Fernwood Cemetery in Gladstone. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Memorial United Methodist Church, the Rolland, Eunice, Genevieve Watson Memorial Scholarship at Gladstone High School or the Delta County Historical Society, envelopes will be available at Memorial United Methodist Church or the Skradski-Boyce Family Funeral Homes.