James H. Watson
James Harry Watson, 84, of Hannibal transitioned to eternal reward Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, at Hannibal Regional Hospital in Hannibal.
Funeral services were at 12 p.m., Saturday at Collier Funeral Home in Louisiana with the Rev. Minnie Smith officiating. Burial was at Eolia Community Cemetery.
Visitation was from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Saturday at the funeral home.
James was a veteran of the United States Army serving his country with the greatest of honor and distinction. He served both in the Korean and Vietnam War. After 30 years of honorable service he retired on March 1, 1982. He received numerous performance awards, Army Commendations and Service Medals during his active and overseas assignments. After his retirement, he did not stop working.
He enlisted with the Department of Defense (DOD) as a civilian licensed fire protection systems mechanic. He retired from DOD on July 31, 1996.
James and Alice moved from Fayetteville, N.C., to Hannibal in September 1996 to enjoy retirement with family and friends.
He enjoyed and loved ham/radio communications. His call sign was “AB0Y”. He was a life-time licensed member with the Federal Communications Amateur Radio for over 50 years.
He always read books to educate himself. He taught himself to write and read music notes, repair TVs and radios. He loved tinkering with electronic gadgets. He built a computer from scratch before computers were popular. He was recognized and served 30 years of service in support of the United States Army Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS). He did not miss a beat communicating mars codes around the world.
James not only loved ham/radio communications, he also loved church, fishing, playing his harmonicas, guitars, banjos and singing gospel songs. He self-taught himself to play all of those musical instruments.
He was a very dedicated and faithful member at Willow Street Christian Church until he was not able to attend services.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Adam Watson, Sr. and Pauline Ella Watson; two sisters Daisy Jane and Marguerite Watson. He was married to Alice L. Dixon-Watson on Sept. 14, 1966. She preceded him in death.
Survivors include two daughters, Paula Abbey and husband, Martie, Bolingbrook, Ill., and Martha Taylor of Zion, Ill.; one son, Floyd Jackson and wife, Jo Ann, Park City, Ill.; two brothers, John Adams, Jr., and Donald Watson and wife, Kathleen, all of Eolia; four sister, Frances Estella Hawthorne amd husband, Peter, Des Moines, Iowa, Ora Bell Conway, Clarksville, Mary Lucille Warren of Eolia, and Donna Thorpe of Minneapolis, Minn.; nine grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; 7 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Margaret Ann Ayers; and two grandchildren Alice Marie and Anjenette Ayers.
