Betty Lou (Watson) Clawson
ENOSBURG FALLS – Betty Lou (Watson) Clawson died peacefully on Sunday, October 27, 2019 at the age of 85. She was born February 26, 1934 in Durango (Falls County), Texas, the daughter of the late Oscar Reuben Crossland and Ira Pearl (Clements) Crossland.
Attending Clinton School in Westphalia, Texas until 1948, Betty Lou moved to Temple, Texas with her family when her parents ended farming in the 1950’s.
Her life’s work centered around her love for sewing, decorating, flower gardening, bird watching, and simply having the gift of making a lot out of a little, adding color to her children’s lives.
Betty Lou was preceded in death by her 1st husband, Harold Frederick Watson (married 1950 in Temple, Texas), her 2nd husband, James Alfred Clawson (married 1965 in Hightstown, New Jersey), Bud Aldrich (married in her later years), and her siblings: Clifford Reuben (Buck) Crossland, Johnnie Burns (JB) Crossland, Gerald Maurice Crossland, Claudia Mae Crossland Cantrell, Dorothy Leigh Crossland Schilling Smith, Mary Julia Crossland Andrews, Jodi Pearl Crossland Voss, Dora Jean Crossland Sanders, and Melba Marie Crossland Hayes.
Betty Lou held the record for the longest life of her generation, along with her brother-in-law, Bill Hayes, who still lives in Temple, Texas. For over one hundred years (1914 – 2019), Oscar Reuben and Ira Pearl’s descendants have populated the state of Texas, surrounding areas, and thanks to the Watsons & Clawsons, some northern states as well.
As an amazing legacy, Betty leaves behind her seven children: Sandra F. W. Beaty (John) of Atlanta, Georgia & Vermont, Sharon Marie Adams of Winchester, Virginia, Harold Doane Watson (Bruce/deceased) of Stratford, Connecticut, John Lee Watson (Lois) of Wilmington, North Carolina, Douglas Frederick Watson (Susan) of Enosburg Falls, Vermont, Dierdra Tara Michelle (Bill) of Westford, Vermont, and James Oscar Clawson (Melissa) of Richford, Vermont; 18 grandchildren: Danielle, Jessie, Jonas, David, Aaron (deceased), Rachel, John, Michael, Jordan, Sarah, Joshua, Timothy, Adam, Molly, Noah, Levi, James and Jacob; and 15 great-grandchildren: Drew, Leah, Miles, Eleanor, Mason, Victoria, Hadley, Blakely, Coralie, Nason, Ainsley, Lennan, Luca, Dante and Matteo.
A Celebration of Life to honor Betty Lou will be held at a later date. The family would like to thank the Brownway Residence staff for their love, kindness, and the exceptional care she received while living there.
Psalm 23, Betty Lou’s favorite, illustrates the source of her inner strength during life’s challenges, and her amazing ability to move forward with “work to be done”. Well done, Betty Lou!
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