Thomas ‘Tom’ Edward Watts

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(Jan. 16, 1939 - Feb. 24, 2017)

Thomas (Tom) Edward Watts went to be with the Lord on Feb. 24, 2017, surrounded by his family. He was 78.

Tom was born in Lovell on Jan. 16, 1939, to Jess and Mamie Watts. Tom went to school in Cody, where he met Mary Haworth. Tom served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1958 in the Reserve Forces Training Regiment.

Tom and Mary were married Dec. 3, 1960. Tom and Mary had four daughters, Loretta (Mark) Moore of Soldotna, Alaska, Corenia Watts of Sylvania, Georgia, Debra (Larry) Nielsen of Powell, Sheryl (Tim) Arndt of Casper, and one son, Gerald (Wendy) Watts of Gillette.

Tom worked in the oil fields until 1972 when he went to work for Park County Road and Bridge.  He became foreman in 1974 and worked there until he retired in January, 1998. He then went to work for Simplot until he retired for good in 2007.

Tom enjoyed hunting and fishing in the Sunlight Basin area, and snowmobiling through Yellowstone Park in the winter, he also enjoyed racing his Jeeps in 4x4 races all over Montana and Wyoming. He also enjoyed visiting family in Alaska which afforded him the opportunity to fish for king salmon, his personal best was a 65 pounder. 

Tom had a very innovative mind, if he could picture it in his mind he could build it.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary; five children; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren, his brother William (Bertha) Watts; plus many cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Jessie Jackson and Dorothy Brown; one niece  Saundra Adams; and three nephews, David and Wayne Jackson and Billy Watts.

Services will be held at Harvest Community Church of the Nazarene, 364 W Park St. in Powell, on Friday, March 3, 10:30 a.m.

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