Obituary of Orvis Harold Watson

Funeral services for Orvis Harold Watson, Jr. age 84 of Columbia will be held 1:00 PM on Friday December 1, 2017 from the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church of Columbia with Rev. John Vining, Pastor Stephen Fife and Rev. Pam Roy officiating. Interment will follow in the Old Bethel Cemetery at Clarks under direction of Riser & Son Funeral Home of Columbia. Visitation will be on Thursday November 30 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the funeral home located at 7131 U. S. Highway 165, Columbia.

Orvis Harold Watson, Jr. was born on February 22, 1933 at Clarks, LA to the union of his parents Orvis Harold Watson, Sr. and Alma Francis Hebert Watson and he passed away peacefully from this life on November 14, 2017 at his residence in Columbia.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his lovely wife Madeline  Watson and son-in-law Raymond B. Stone. Mr. Watson Graduated from Columbia High School where he lettered in Football and Track and Field. He attended Louisiana Tech University. He was a Certified diesel and outboard engine Mechanic, and he worked on outboards and small engines for over fifty years. Mr. Watson worked for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for thirty years. He was the Supervisor for Real Estate and Re-location Services Department in the Chase, LA District Office. Everyone knew him as “The Boatman”. He would work on outboards until the early hours of the morning, sleep a few hours and then go back to work. He loved to tell stories of his childhood and early days growing up in Columbia. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Columbia and a member of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans and a lifetime benefactor Member of the National Rifle Association.

Left to cherish a lifetime of memories are  His daughters: Nancy Elaine Watson Stone and life partner Ronald D. Edwards, and Cynthia “Cindy” Lynn Watson and life partner Jeff Parker; His son: Orvis Harold “Trey” Watson III and wife Shannon. His beloved grandchildren: Gregory O. “Chet” Mauldin, Jr and wife Lauren; Nykki N. Watts and husband Stanley; Ashley D. Strickland and husband Chad; Cody  D. Varnell; Wyatt E. Watson and Connor S. Watson: His Beloved Great Grandchildren:  Annabeth Strickland; Maverick Varnell; Ryker Watts and Brooks O. Watts.

His special friend  Joyce Hickey and special family: Dale and Beverly Jones and children of Raleigh, NC; his special cousins Nelta Cooke, son Jimmy and his wife Rhonda and daughter Meagan of Ringgold, LA.

Serving as pallbearers will be Orvis H. “Trey” Watson III, Nancy Watson Stone, Gregory O “Chet” Mauldin, Jr, Cody D. Varnell, Chad Strickland, Stan Watts, Heath Futch, Jamie Watts, Jason Watts, Ronald D. Edwards, and Jeff Parker. Honorary pallbearers include Maverick Varnell, Wyatt Watson, Connor Watson, Ryker G. Watts, Brooks O. Watts, Garland Grant, Ronnie Smith, Charles Yates, Eugene Dupree, Scott Meredith, Dr. Mike Davis, Dr. Russ Cummings, Henry Byrd, Dr. Harry Winters, Greg Copeland, Ricky Copeland, Phillip Wilkins, Ramon Warren and Dale Jones.