BOONE, Iowa—Phyllis Oma Watson, 93, of Boone, Iowa, passed away at Eastern Star Masonic Home in Boone, Iowa, on Friday, November 22, 2024. She was born on January 20, 1931, in Ira, Iowa, the daughter of Fred and Oma (Harsha) Gardner. She was a graduate of Milford High School near Nevada, Iowa, which closed in the 1960s. On August 20, 1952, Phyllis married Kenneth E Watson at a small church in Dawson, Iowa.
Phyllis was born and raised a country girl and stayed true to those roots throughout her life. Besides raising four children and helping husband Kenny manage their farm, she also enjoyed several traditional country hobbies. Quilting was one hobby that Phyllis enjoyed throughout her life. She created many quilts through the years, with all her grandchildren receiving their own unique quilts. It was only the impact of time that prevented her from doing the same for her great-grandchildren. A natural companion to quilting, sewing was second nature to Phyllis, making uncounted articles of clothing and other items.
Also true to those country roots, Phyllis was dedicated to a clean, orderly house. Nothing in the house could be too clean, nor anything too shiny. There was a place for everything, and everything was to be in its place. Even so, she loved being with family and enjoyed visits from friends and family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
As the farm activity dropped off, and especially as time took its toll and Phyllis was no longer able to quilt and sew as she had, she used that time to develop an avid love of reading. So much so that keeping Phyllis stocked with an adequate supply of reading material was sometimes a challenge for the rest of the family. Books filled many an hour of her day; with the scope of her reading covering a wide range of subjects, from biographies to fiction and everything in-between.
Phyllis was a member of the First Baptist Church in Boone, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Watson; brothers, Duane and Ronald Gardner; nephew, Richard “Ricky” Gardner; niece, Linda Janke; and daughter-in-law, Cyndi (Cummings) Watson.
Phyllis is survived by her four children: Randy (Fran) Watson of Urbandale, IA; Cherie (John Thede) Watson of Robins, IA; Stacy (Julie) Watson of Boone, IA; and Lisa (Don) Camp of Rhodes, IA; seven grandchildren: Tyler Watson of Boone, IA; Lucian (Dona) Camp of Ankeny, IA; Allison Thede (Jeremy) Everman of Hiawatha, IA; Jordan (Whitney) Camp of Huxley, IA; Harrison (Leandra) Thede of Lake Jackson, TX; and Eliana Watson and Lane Watson of Boone, IA; five great-grandchildren: Adelyn and Wesley Camp of Huxley, IA, and Elzen, Linus and Lennon Camp of Ankeny, IA; two sisters, Shirley Bylund of Audubon, IA, and Norma Jean Jacobsen of San Mateo, CA; brother, Charles (Mary Jane) Gardner, fondly known as “Uncle Bun”, of Marshall, NC.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home in Boone, with Pastor Janell Bloem officiating. Interment will be at Squire Boone Cemetery in Boone following the funeral service. Visitation with the family present to greet friends will be prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Boone County Dialysis Foundation.
Phyllis Watson, 93, Boone, Iowa
