CALVIN WATSON

CAIRO, Ill. -- Calvin E. Watson, 82, of Cairo died Thursday, Nov. 5, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born June 9, 1916, in Mound City, son of Earl and Oma Sheerer Watson. He married Evelyn Baker.

Watson owned the Calvin Watson Inc. Cadillac-Buick-Pontiac and GMC Truck dealership in Cairo many years, retiring in 1988.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Cairo Elks Lodge 651, Cairo Masonic Lodge 237 AF&AM, Scottish Rite Bodies of Southern Illinois, Ainad Shrine Temple in E. St. Louis, KIM Shrine Club in Cairo, and was a 32nd Degree Mason.

Watson was a past president and served on the board of directors of Illinois Automobile Trade Association, past president of Cairo Chamber of Commerce, past president and Paul Harris Fellow of Cairo Rotary Club.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Scott Watson of Baton Rouge, La.; and four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers.

Friends may call at Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo from 4-7 p.m. Saturday. Masonic rites will be conducted at 7 p.m. by Cairo Lodge 237.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with the Revs. Kelly Cox and Jerome Fortenberry officiating. Burial will be in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens at Villa Ridge.