William Watson, 87

William “Bill” Watson passed away on Sept. 13, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. Family, music and prayers surrounded him.
Bill was born July 27, 1931, in Detroit, but always called Colon his home. Bill grew up in a show business family that traveled the country before he enlisted in the Air Force for four years during the Korean War.
As a young airman, he met and married the love of his life, Marilyn “Mickey” Watson. They had three children, Don, Lisa and Billy). “We had one of each!” he would proudly announce with that smile.
He used his military radio training to have a long and successful career in the telephone industry. After early retirement as director of government affairs and public relations, he started his own government relations firm to continue helping elected officials understand complex telecommunication bills.
Bill was preceded in death by his father, Monk; his mother Mary; and his wife, Mickey. He is survived by his three children; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Bill was a Scoutmaster, beautiful skier (snow and water), amateur magician, all-around outdoorsman, accomplished sailor, accurate skeet shooter, golfer with control, but most will remember him for his sense of humor, beautiful voice and for being a great friend. He almost never stayed in a hotel, because he knew someone near that place he wanted to visit and who wanted to see him. He would joke, “I have a friend to stay with every night everywhere I go across this country … not so much on the way back!”
There will be a memorial service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13 at Schipper Funeral Home in Colon. Interment will follow at Lakeside Cemetery, followed by a lunch at Colon United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, Bill wanted to have donations made to Alzheimer’s Association  in honor of his daughter Lisa.