Obituary of Fred Watts

WATTS: Frederick George Watts of Lloydminster passed away in the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre on Sunday, December 26, 2004 at the age of 96 years. Fred is survived by his loving wife Edie; three children: Nola (Doug) Leighton, Shelly (Garry) Benoit and Trent (Cathy) Watts; eight grandchildren: Aaron Leighton, Dayna (Cam Lane) Leighton-Lane, Jorden Leighton, Scott (Heidi) Benoit, Kaeli Benoit, Bethany Benoit, Brad (Sarah Oosman) Watts, and Sarah Watts. The funeral service was conducted from St. John’s Anglican Church, Lloydminster on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 at 1:00 P.M. with Reverend Terry Wiebe officiating. Pat Skinner played the organ. Pastor Elwood McLean said prayers and shared personal reflections. The soloist was Laura Hastings, accompanied by Jeanine Hatchard. Ken Hastings and Garry Benoit gave Scripture readings. Pallbearers were grandchildren: Aaron Leighton, Dayna Leighton-Lane, Jorden Leighton, Scott Benoit, Kaeli Benoit, Bethany Benoit, Brad Watts and Sarah Watts. Interment followed in Golden Valley Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd. administered the funeral arrangements. Doug Leighton read the eulogy. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, I am deeply honoured and very privileged to have been asked to deliver this eulogy, which has been prepared by the family, about a man all of us dearly loved, Frederick George Watts. Fred came into this world on February 15, 1908, at home on the farm, the first baby born in the newly formed rural community of Rising Sun. He spent most of his life in this district, soon to be renamed “Golden Valley,” southwest of Lloydminster where he farmed the land on which his parents had been homesteaders. Like so many of our elderly folk, Freddy loved the land, the crops, the animals and the daily and yearly routines which revolved around them. But even more so, Freddy loved people ... a social butterfly if I ever met one. His family and friends were always number one in his life, without fail. He was my father-in-law, but he was also my best friend, and I just wonder how many other people thought of him in the same light ... as their best friend. No doubt there were dozens - farm neighbours, townfolk, fellow church members. No matter where he went, Freddy was loved by all. Music was very important to Fred, and during his young adult years, he travelled far and wide ... on horseback ... to play the piano at school and community dances. During the same young adult years, he courted a beautiful young nurse named Edith Harwicke, a courtship which culminated on November the 11th, 1941, with their wedding in Golden Valley Anglican Church. Their wonderful marriage was blessed with three children, Nola, Shelly and Trent, and eventually the next generation, with eight grandchildren, all of whom are here with us today. Now we all know of, and were blessed by, Freddy’s generous nature. Without question, it was one of his most endearing qualities. But it was his grandchildren who REALLY cashed in on it, as they soon discovered he had a bottomless pocket full of candy AND loose change. Likewise, Gary and I, when courting Shelly and Nola, also quickly learned to “cash in” on Fred’s amazing generosity. When we would pull into the Watts’ farmyard, the first thing Fred would do would be to tell us to fill our cars up over at his big bulk gas tank. Needless to say we soon learned to arrive on “empty.” Fred’s generosity did not condone waste, however. When he realized that gasoline was being “borrowed” during the dead of night with the tap not being fully turned off because of hasty departures, Freddy’s response was to post a sign which read: PLEASE TURN OFF THE TAP TIGHTLY. I HATE WASTE!! Similarly, Fred excelled in sharing his time with others. Cathy, Trent’s wife, reminded us of a behaviour SO typical of Fred. Within minutes of meeting him for the first time 30-some years ago she was whisked away to meet the old folks, Auntie Bessie in the Pioneer Lodge, and Uncle Tom and Auntie Hilda in their rustic three-room house tucked in amongst the hills close to Fred’s farm. This, for Fred, was standard procedure. Kids coming home??? They go visit the old folks before doing anything else. The caring, the respect and the dedication which Fred so humbly practiced, taught all of us how to give ourselves, asking and expecting nothing in return ... in other words, how to be a true friend. Time, energy, love ... Freddy gave so freely of himself, and how we were all blessed as a result. One of MY most lasting memories of Freddy is as a woodcutter. I can personally vouch for his enthusiastic use of a chainsaw as I still sport the scar from the time when he got ME instead of the poplar tree for which he was aiming. Other people would have known him best in other ways. I’m sure Golden Valley folks will remember him as a wonderful farming neighbour ... specializing in his later years as a rock picker with the Hastings family. The Gideon organization, Alf and Betty Harris for example, and Wade and Edith Blythe, will remember his dedicated and faithful service in distributing Bibles throughout the community. Elwood McLean, one of Fred’s dear friends, no doubt remembers the wonderful times of fellowship which he and Fred enjoyed and about which Fred spoke so fondly. And most of us, without question, will recall Fred’s uncanny ability to sell us tickets to upcoming events in the Christian community. Even the RCMP constable who nailed him with a $50 fine for not wearing a seatbelt, was given the opportunity to purchase a ticket to the Gideon banquet. Freddy was tenacious; once you were on his “list”, you didn’t escape until that ticket was bought. Mich like the apostle Paul, Fred truly was all things to all people ... AND a fine salesman to boot! Most of all, however, we are going to remember Fred as the finest example of a Christian man who daily lived what Jesus taught. If Fred’s second name hadn’t been George, I am sure it would have been “contentment,” and I believe THAT contentment came directly from his absolute and unwavering faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour. What an example he was to all of us ... a man of peace, honest to the core, humble, gentle, accepting of everyone, judgemental of no one ... as close to personifying Jesus as anyone I have ever known. We know you are with the Lord, Fred, rejoicing with loved ones in a mansion of many rooms and singing a new, heavenly song. Goodbye, Freddy, for now, but we know that one day when our turn comes, you will be waiting to welcome us on the other side. Thank you Lord for the opportunity to have known this wonderful gentleman, Frederick George Watts. On behalf of the family, thank you for being here with us today. And if you possibly could, please join us in the adjoining hall after we return from the Golden Valley cemetery in about an hour. It would have pleased Fred IMMENSELY to have everyone attend his farewell lunch. Thank You. Card of Thanks We thank Dr. Lakins for her compassion, the Dr. Cooke staff for eight years of loving care, Reverend Wiebe and all others who participated in the comforting service and everyone who visited, sent flowers, food or cards. We also thank the church ladies for lunch, the McCaw Family for their guidance and comfort and all who attended the service. Thank you to everyone who made charitable donations in Fred’s memory. Donations may be made to The Gideons or a charity of the donors choice.