Lakewood Funeral Chapel
98 North Dixie Drive
Lake Jackson, TX  77566
Thursday, December 7, 2017
6:00pm-8:00pm
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Funeral Service
Christ Lutheran Church
86 Plantation Ct.
Lake Jackson, TX  77566
Friday, December 8, 2017
2:00pm
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Viola Helen Watson

of Lake Jackson, TX

January 9, 1933 - December 2, 2017


  • Obituary
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Vi Watson, 84, passed away at home in Rosenberg, TX. December 2, 2017. Never one for sad, lengthy good-byes, angels snuck in quietly while her family was nearby and took her home to Heaven. Vi was an incredible woman, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Born January 9, 1933 in Jasper, Indiana on the family farm to Edward J. Himsel and his wife Helene Koenig, Himsel. Her brothers, James and Robert Himsel, are now showing her around Glory and reuniting her with her parents, her daughter (Teresa), her former husbands (John Watson and Joe Heiman), her daughter from another mother (Annette), her son-in-law (David), her sister-in-law and name twin (Viola) and the friends and cousins who beat her to the Heavenly party. The welcoming committee is a large, loving one and we suspect she'll find or create a game of Bridge and settle in nicely. Her childhood was filled with dreams of adventure. An avid reader, she devoured Zane Grey novels and had a keen intellect, graduating high school as valedictorian. She moved to Washington, D.C. taking a job as a secretary for the FBI. In 1956, at the age of 23, she married John Donald Watson in Texas and welcomed his two children from a previous marriage (John Donald, Jr. and Annette Marie) into her family. Viola gave birth to her first daughter (Cynthia Lynn) within the first year of marriage and motherhood became her new adventure, she went on to have three more daughters (Sandra Elaine, Wanda Helen and Teresa Diann). While her fulltime job was mother and housewife, she kept her mind sharp by playing Bridge and was a master Bridge player, teaching Bridge at the Brazosport Junior College for several years. After 27 years of marriage, Vi and John divorced. A few years later, she met and married Joe Heiman and remained with him until his death in 1993. Viola lived her life well-- full of love, travel, family and faith. She almost always had a daughter or grandchild living under her roof and always had a room, a hug and something sweet available (as long as you didn't dare eat over the carpet). She loved animals, playing cards with her grandkids, cooking, entertaining guests, watching her favorite TV shows and getting the family to church. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Lake Jackson, TX for over 50 years. She will be sorely missed by her three remaining daughters and stepson, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, fur babies and friends. Family and friends will meet at Lakewood Funeral Home, 98 N Dixie Dr. from 6:00-8:00PM Thursday Dec.7th and on Friday December 8th, 2017 at Christ Lutheran Church in Lake Jackson at 2:00pm to share your stories and celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you send donations to Christ Lutheran Church Lake Jackson. Burial will be in Hayesville, Indiana December 27th, 2017 donations to offset cost are greatly appreciated.