Melba Watson

Melba Ann Turner Watson loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother of Lancaster, Texas, went home to her heavenly father on Sunday, November 4, 2018, at the age of 80 years young. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, November 7, 2018 at the First United Methodist Church, Clifton with Rev. Mary Gean Cope officiating. Burial will follow at Lanes Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7 P.M. Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at Clifton Funeral Home.

Melba was born on September 17, 1938, in the Lanes Chapel Community of Bosque County Texas. She was the second oldest of seven children to the late Clyde and Ila (Thompson) Turner of Clifton, Texas. She grew up in a large and loving family in and around Clifton, Texas.

She graduated from Clifton High School in 1957 and in June of that same year she married H.L. Watson and began living in the Dallas area. Her first career and her true passion began in 1958 when she gave birth to her first of three sons, Clyde. After the birth of her sons Clay (’59) and Barry (’63), they moved to Port Lavaca. While living in Port Lavaca, Melba began working as a telephone operator for GTE. After 32 years of service and transfers to Robstown, Bryan, and Lewisville, she retired from GTE as a Co-Construction Coordinator in 1996 while living in Lancaster. Prior to her retirement from GTE, her second career as grandmother (Gram) began in 1992. Then in 2015 she began her third career as great grandmother. As you might expect, she excelled at being a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was a life long member of the United Methodist Church and a past officer and member of the United Methodist Women of Red Oak Texas.

Melba’s greatest love was her family. To her sons and daughters (in-law), she will always be “Mother”. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren know her as “Gram”. Her high school friends would probably tell you she was “Melbann”, but to her family, she will always be “Mody”. Melba will always be remembered for her love and tenderness. She will be greatly missed, but we will forever have many wonderful memories of her in our hearts.

Melba is survived by three sons and two daughters (in-law): Clyde Watson of Lancaster, Clay and Terri Watson of Temple, and Barry and Elaine Watson of Yorktown. She is survived by 5 grandchildren: Sara (’92), Chad (’94), Katie (’95), Cortney (’95) and Kamryn (’98) Watson. She is survived by 2 great granddaughters: Avery (2015) and Harper (2017) Watson. She is survived by her brother Leonard Turner and wife Keiko; and sisters Sue Carpenter; Charlotte Turner; and Rhonda Patton and husband Gus. She is survived by many nieces and nephews.

Melba was preceded in death by her husband, H.L. Watson; her parents, Clyde and Ila (Thompson) Turner; and her brothers Lloyd Turner and Thomas Turner.

Pallbearers are Marty Watson, Eddy Watson, Lloyd Turner, Josh Patton, Chad Watson and Katie Watson.