JOAN WATTS

August 5, 1943 ~ August 8, 2020

“A mother is someone who can take the place of all others

but whose place no one else can take.”

Laura Joan Watts passed away peacefully at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital on Saturday, August 8, 2020, at the age of 77 years. Joan was born in Biggar, Saskatchewan on August 5, 1943. She was the third of four children of Howard and Mildred Taylor. Joan received her schooling in Biggar up until Grade 10 then she ventured to Saskatoon to live on her own and attend Marvel Beauty School. Upon graduation, she moved to Eatonia to work for Evelyn Sommers. There she fell in love with a strapping young rancher and eventually she bought her own shop on Main Street until her family grew too large to do both. Out numbered by five males in the house, Joan established her place early on as the keeper of the home. Joan was never one to soften the truth. As a ranchers wife, she learned that calves may end up in your bathtub or basement, travelling was limited to team roping events and venues like Vegas when the NFR was on and meal time means at least three squares a day. When branding time came along, she could really showcase her cooking talents as everyone came to the Watts brandings to help out so that Jerry would help at theirs with 3-4 boys in tow.

As a mom, the boys remember her paint stick and bar of soap that she wasn’t afraid to use on any kid stepping out of line, patched jeans, spending hours in the garden with their mother (never voluntarily), her getting off the phone from other mothers when they had accidently roped the neighbor kids off their bikes, the baking that would be in the freezer and then the anger they would endure when she realized those containers were empty, many miles going to hockey practices and games and her displeasure the Christmas everyone showed up with dogs and she grumbled about all the dogs and no grandchildren, then being presented with three the following year.

The grandchildren, oh how she loved them, remember her ice cream sundae toppings, waiting to see if grandma brought her delicious apple pie for Sunday suppers, hot dogs and kraft dinner, cutting their toast into four before bed, Christmas mornings, her crazy driving, going for walks with Bo, grandchildren weddings and her displeasure about mini stick tourneys in her basement.

Joan will forever be loved and remembered by her sons, Darryl (Zerlina), Brent (Lana), Kim (Leanne) and Travis (Tara); grandchildren, Jayelle, Taylor (Chelsey), Ty, Brayden, Kourtney (Chad), Aaron, Shaunda, Evan, Haylie, Austin, Brynn, Brooke and Jayce; siblings, Wayne (Veronica) Taylor and Patti Evanisky and sisters-in-law, Gail (Wayne) Holmes and Bonnie Shore. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Gerald Watts; parents, Howard and Mildred Taylor; brother, Jack Taylor; parents-in-laws, David and Madge Watts and brothers-in-law, Bill Shore and Alex Evanisky.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this Funeral Service will be by invitation only. Those wishing to watch the service via the live stream are encouraged to visit www.cooksouthland.com and click the view broadcast button on the homepage at service time. The celebration of Joan’s life will be held at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901-13 Street S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta on Friday, August 14, 2020, at 2:00 p.m., with Dennis Betker officiating. A Private Graveside Service will follow at Hillside Cemetery. If friends so desire, memorial donations in Joan’s name may be made directly to the Canadian Cancer Society, Suite 200, 6223 – 2 Street S.E., Calgary, AB., T2H 1J5 or to the Eatonia Oasis Living, 205 – 2nd Ave West, Eatonia, SK. S0L 0Y0. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting our website at www.cooksouthland.com). Honoured to serve the family is

Cook Southland Funeral Chapel Crematorium & Reception Facility, 901 – 13th Street S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4 Phone 403-527-6455 www.cooksouthland.com “Locally owned & directed”