Donald Eugene Watson 1924 - May 3, 2013

Donald Eugene Watson passed away peacefully at Providence St. Vincent Hospital on Friday, May 3, one month after undergoing a successful aortic valve replacement.

Don was born in 1924 to Marion Robert and Minnie G Watson, in Royal, Nebraska. He was the third of six children born to the family. The family lived in Nebraska and South Dakota during his childhood. He had many stories of family life farming and raising cattle in the Midwest, of trading with the Sioux Indians - the family did not have a lot of money, but they were rich with love; it was a childhood he had dearly loved. When Don was 11 years old, he and his two brothers (14 and 15) moved a herd of cattle 90 miles to a new grazing ground - a far cry from what is expected of young teenagers today.

In 1939, the family moved to Eugene. Don joined the Army in 1943. He was deployed to Papua, New Guinea and other Southeast Asian points. While in the military, he contracted typhus fever and malaria, spending over a year in military hospitals around the world.

After the military, he returned to Eugene where he met and married Terrie (Dorothy Lou) Ferrell. They were divorced in 1969. Don worked for Slocum Distributing and later Burris Distributing, where he was the sales manager. Don loved people and he loved to talk; it was often said that he could "sell anything to anyone." This skill served him well throughout his life, as he later became the state rep for Paul Masson Winery and ended his sales career with his own import business which took him all over the Northwest.

In 1986, Don married Dorro Sokol of Sisters, they divorced in 2012. He loved living and working on the ranch with the beautiful views and wonderfully dry weather. He took great pride in selling hay and made many wonderful friends by treating his customers the way he wanted to be treated. He was a member of Kiwanis Service Club, and the Sisters Rodeo Association where he enjoyed working the rodeo and helping with Shots for Tots. He was also a member of the B.P.O.E.

Don was predeceased by his brothers, Robert, Arlo, Keith, Jack and his beloved sister, Darlene Wilson and his beloved red heeler, Red Bear.

Don is survived by his two children, Sheri (Richard) of Aptos, CA and Don (Aracely) of Cabo San Lucas, Baja Sur California; his granddaughter, Heather Watson of Eugene; nieces Trudy Snyder of Vancouver, WA, Judy (Jerry) Sisco of Eugene; nephews Dennis (Kaye) Russum of Beaverton, Jerry Russum of Sutherlin and several other nieces and nephews that he had unfortunately lost contact with over the years. Don is also survived by his coffee buddies at Sisters Athletic Club as well as many, many friends in Sisters and across the state.

A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, May 9 at 4 p.m. for Don Watson at Sisters Rodeo Clubhouse, located southeast of Sisters on Highway 20 (67637 Highway 20, Bend, OR 97701).

In lieu of flowers, Don asked that donations be made in his name to the Sisters Kiwanis Club and/or Valve Center at Providence St. Vincent Hospital, 9427 S.W. Barnes Rd., Portland, OR 97225.

For more information contact Sheri at [email protected] Arrangements by Springer And Son.