John Thomas Watson passed away on February 27, 2021 in Rocky Mount North Carolina at the age of 68.

John was born April 1, 1952 in Downriver Detroit to Ralph James and Marjorie Cahill Watson of Grosse Ile, Michigan and raised alongside his four sisters and brother. He attended Grosse Ile High School where he served on the student council, ran cross country and was a member of the Varsity Club, among other activities. He graduated in 1970 and subsequently attended Oakland University in Rochester Michigan. From a young age John was an avid golfer, was a member of the GIHS Golf Team and continued to play throughout his adult life.

In 1981, he married Carol S. Ferguson and became a caring step-father to her children Caroljean and Micheal.

John learned carpentry after college and ran a number of construction and roofing businesses in Michigan and later in North Carolina, where he lived in Shallotte and Wilmington before he moved to Rocky Mount. He loved animals and had a pet store in Newport MI he took great pride in. He became a real estate agent in North Carolina and invested in several properties in the state. In his final years he lived at Your Loving Care, Inc. under the supervision and care of Beatrice Petaway and her staff who attended to his health issues with great compassion.

He is survived by his siblings Diane Marie Watson, Barbara Lynn Watson, Andrea Gail Watson, Ralph James Watson, Jr. and Mary Louise Watson Swain, his ex-wife Carol Sue Watson, and his step-children Caroljean Marie Goulasarian, and Micheal David Lustig.

Donations in John's memory can be made to United Community Ministries (http://unitedcommunityministries.org), Bassett Center, 916 Branch Street Rocky Mount, NC 27801 or to homeless support organizations of your choice.

Memorial Service to Celebrate John's Life will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 20, 2021 at Matthews Family Mortuary.

Reverend Vernon Bryant will deliver words of comfort to the family.

Service will be streamed live from the Matthews Family Mortuary Facebook page beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Final rites and professional arrangements are entrusted to Matthews Family Mortuary.

Please remember to sign the guestbook.