William "Butch" Watson

William L. “Butch” Watson, Jr., age 68, a resident of Columbia, passed away Thursday, January 6, 2022, surrounded by his family.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at 2:00 PM at Heritage Funeral Home with Pastor Tommy Clark officiating. The family will also receive friends and family on Saturday from 12:00 – 2:00 PM at the funeral home. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Born on January 8, 1953, in Columbia, Butch was the son of the late William L. Watson, Sr. and the late Violet Gemmell Watson. He was retired from General Electric where he worked for thirty years as a brazer and welder. To know Butch was to love him. He never met a stranger and helped anyone that he ever came in contact with. He loved to laugh and had the most contagious smile, but he got the most enjoyment in making others laugh. He had such a love for life that will forever remain in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. Butch was well known as one of the best mechanics in all of Columbia. He had a love for racing dirt tracks that even his daughter followed in his footsteps. He had an immense love for all of his friends and family. The relationships between his daughters and his grandchildren could never be broken. That love will live on in the hearts of everyone that was blessed to know and love Butch.

Butch is survived by his two daughters, Angie (Keith) Tilghman of Dickson, Charlotte Watson (Robert) Moyer of Culleoka, sisters, Betty (Sammy) Lail of Arkansas, Anita Raylee Watson, Patricia Watson Scribner of Columbia, aunt, Kathleen Gemmell of Columbia, grandchildren, Dalton Keith Tilghman, Carter Willliam Tilghman of Dickson, Ashlynn Mikeala Moyer, Brianna Mary Moyer, Dallas Ray McGowan of Culleoka, and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, Jesse (Anderson) and Clayton Gemmell, Sr. and Virgil Watson and Betty Louise Rankin Watson Haywood, his uncles, John Gemmell, Clayton Gemmell, Jr., and William Gemmell.

Honorary pallbearers will include Michael “Mike” Goins, Sr., Nancy Loftin, David McMeen, Roy White, Jerry Olive and Cathy McMillan.