Barbara Watson

Barbara Jean Payne Watson, 79, of Altair, passed away on March 26, 2023 peacefully in her sleep.

Barbara was born on September 12, 1943 to Herman Hayden and Willie Muriel Jordan Payne in Liberty, Texas.  Barbara graduated as a Bronco from Dayton High School.

After graduation she worked for Southwestern Bell telephone company as an operator for many years before moving to California where she lived for 15 years.

Upon her return to Texas in 1982, she worked for the First National Bank of Eagle Lake as well as the Eagle Lake Police Department and Lone Star Aggregate. Lone Star later became Pioneer and then Lehigh Hanson and that is where she retired from.

In 1984 Barbara met Charles Lee (Buck) Watson. They were married October 12, 1985. Together they made several trips to West Texas with her brother and sister. Took a cruise to Alaska and dearly loved visiting Branson, Missouri. She loved to travel.

She also loved watching her grandchildren play their sports and spending time with them.

Barbara was predeceased by her parents Herman and Muriel Payne, brother Baby Boy Payne, sister and brother-in-law Amanda (Pat) and Roy Cantrell, brother Gary (Buzz) Payne, brother and sister-in-law Bobby and Jo Payne. Son-in-law George (Tim) Vandermark.

Barbara is survived by husband Charles (Buck) Watson, children Geri Vandermark, Debbie (Bobby) Labay, brother Sherman (Linda) Payne, sister Scharlene (Johnny) Prazak, grandchildren Paige (Andrew) Dimas, Carlee Vandermark, Zach (Jenna) Vandermark, Nathan (Jessica) Labay, Keith (Paige) Labay, and Kourtnie Labay. Great grandchildren Addie and Amelia Labay, Klein, McKinney and Sealy Labay, Austin and Rylee Vandermark.

Visitation will be at Eagle Lake Funeral Home from 5 unti 7 pm on Thursday, March 30, 2023.  Funeral service will be at 2 pm Friday, March 31, 2023 at Eagle Lake Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Lakeside Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Nathen, Jessica, Keith, Paige and Kourtnie Labay, Paige and Andrew Dimas and Carlee Vandermark.

Honorary pallbearers Todd McCoy, Daniel Payne, Belinda Nolte, Brenda Marsh, Troy Cantrell, Connie Webb, Donna Parker, Rhonda Iannicelli, Bobby Jo Bennet, Shanna Lahti, Ben Payne, Regina Ressler, Burt Payne, Jason Payne and Chester Payne.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, New York 10001 or the charity of your choice.