Lucille Watson

Lucille A. “Lou” Watson, 98, died at 2:01 p.m. Thursday, September 1, 2011 at her residence.  She was born July 4, 1913 on Madison Avenue in Alton at the home of her grandfather Dr. S.M. Watson who delivered her. She was the daughter of the late Harry G. and Edna A. (Dotson) Watson. Her family built and operated a tavern at State and Logan Street which is now Johnson’s Corner.   During summer vacation after 2 years of high school she applied at Illinois Bell Telephone Company as an operator in 1930.  She intended to return to school in the fall but stayed with Illinois Bell for 41 years retiring in 1971.  She was an operator, supervisor and service observer and a member of the Telephone Pioneers.  Horse shows and trail rides were her interests.  She attended two 100 mile trail rides in Illinois.  She attended Cross Country Trail Rides in MO, which is the largest trail ride in the country. Starting in the first cross country ride she attended every ride and in August of 2000 was the only original rider still left and was awarded a silver and gold bracelet with a mule head and engraved with 45 years of attending this ride. She continued to attend five more years to visit friends but was unable to ride.  They awarded her a 50 year belt buckle for continuous participation.   In 1996 she was inducted into Trail Riders Hall of Fame at Alexandria, LA.  She was featured on Trail Riders Magazine Cover on her mule “Lucy”.  Always an animal lover she started with a pony as a child and was never without a horse, mule or donkey.  all of which spent their entire life with her and was never sold.  She was associated with 5A’s Animal Shelter in their early days and at the illness of Helen Gibson she took over 5A’s on her 80^th birthday.  Her 4 dogs gave a birthday party at the shelter and all proceeds went to 5A’s where the dogs came from, sometime after that she resigned from 5A’s.  She is survived by longtime friends:  David and Marva Bachman of Brighton.  Special thanks to her caretakers:  Julie Botterbush of Mederi Caretakers of Godfrey and the staff at Absolute Health Care Services of Alton.  She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother:  Robert Watson.  Visitation will be from 10:00 until time of funeral service at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at Gent Funeral Home in Alton with Reverend Steve Rice to officiate.  Burial will be at Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey.  Memorials may be made to:  Metro East Humane Society, 8495 State Rt. 143, Edwardsville, IL 62025.  Additional information and online guest book may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com

Obit Provided By:
Gent Funeral Home