Gary Watson

Gary M. Watson, 77, of Cape Girardeau passed away Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

He was born April 15, 1936, in Cape Girardeau, son of William Homer and Flora Maude Williams Watson. He and Justine Tripp were married Oct. 24, 1954, in Sardis, Miss.

Gary was a 1953 graduate of Central High School. He worked for Brad Reagan Tire Co. in Harrisburg, Ill., then was location custodian at Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau from 1983 to 1993, and retired from K and K Electric Co. in Cape Girardeau in 2003. He was a member of Bethany Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau and its men's senior Sunday school class. He was a former member of Lynwood Baptist Church, where he became an ordained deacon in October 1988.

Loving survivors include his wife of 59 years, Justine; a son, Gary W. (Betty) Watson of Marble Hill, Mo.; a daughter, Sheila (Virgil) Porter of Greenbrier, Ark.; a brother, Gerald (Irene) Watson of Ash Grove, Mo.; a sister, Jeanne (Frank) Crites of Jackson; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and two sisters.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Revs. Virgil Porter and Shawn Wasson officiating. Interment will be in Fairmount Cemetery.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Bethany Baptist Church.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.