John "Jack" Arthur Watson

John Arthur Watson “Jack”, 86, of Fleming Island, FL, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Thanksgiving Day. He was born to parents, George Haworth Watson and Lillian Tucker on June 15, 1926 in Oak Park, (Chicago), Illinois. Jack was a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY. Following high school in Oak Park, IL, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Navy and went to RPI on the GI Bill. He met Pat at a student church function in Troy where she was enrolled at nearby Russell Sage College. After their marriage on June 6, 1948 and graduation from RPI, Jack and Pat moved to Wantagh, Long Island, NY. He owned and operated a garden supply store in Amityville, NY before moving to Clermont, FL with the first four of his seven children in 1956. Jack was a home builder, developer and realtor for Jost and Watson Realty in Clermont until 1965 when he decided to switch careers and go to work for Martin Marietta in Orlando as an aerospace engineer. Jack and his family came to Jacksonville in 1969 where he worked and retired as an engineer at the Naval Air Rework Facility (NARF) at NAS (Naval Air Station) Jacksonville. Jack was an accomplished athlete, having starred in soccer and tennis in high school and college. He also enjoyed golf, playing 6 days a week after moving from Jacksonville to Magnolia Point, where he scored two Holes-in-one. He also enjoyed snow skiing and ran competitively in the River Run, after which he jokingly said “at least I beat a couple of nuns.” Also a teacher and an avid sports fan, Jack was a Little League coach in Clermont and a die-hard Chicago Cubs and Bear fan. Jack is survived by his wife of 64 years, Patricia Jost Watson and 7 children, John Jr. (Ginny) of Jacksonville, Mary Cranford (Doug) of Macclenny, Nancy Burris (Jim) of Jacksonville, Chuck (Pam) of Palm Coast, James of Brunswick, GA, Tom (Suzanne) of Grayton Beach, FL, and Paul of Fleming Island, FL; brother, George Watson of Kansas City, MO; aunt, Florence “Ammie” Cislak of Chicago, IL; Jack has 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws. A Memorial service will be held at 2pm Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church with Mother Celeste Tisdelle officiating. In lieu of flowers the family would greatly appreciate donations to be made in Jack’s memory to the St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 1346, Green Cove Springs, FL, 32043. The Watson family wishes to express their loving thanks to Mother Celeste and the congregation at St. Mary’s, the doctors, nurses and support staff at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, and the volunteers and staff of Community Hospice. Please sign the family’s guest book at www.broadusraines.com. Cremation arrangements under the care of Broadus Raines Funeral Home, 501 Spring Street, Green Cove Springs, FL, 32043, (904) 284-4000