Mary Elizabeth (Gardner) Watson, 85, of Altus, Oklahoma, passed away on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, in DeSoto, Texas. Born on October 28, 1938, in Madill, Oklahoma, she was the daughter of the late Green Gardner and Ona Norris Gardner. Mary spent her early years in Madill, graduating from Madill High School in 1956. Her life as a wife and mother began when she married A.J. Watson on October 22, 1955, a union that took her across the country to Kansas, Alaska, and California accompanying her husband during his military service. Mary, A.J. and their six daughters finally made Altus their home in 1971, where Mary would live for the remainder of her life.

Determined and ambitious, Mary went back to school after raising her family, earning her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Cameron University. She spent 25 years working for the Department of Defense Civil Service, retiring in 2003. Mary was involved in her community; a proud member of both the First Missionary Baptist Church in Madill and the American Business Women's Association in Altus.

Her love of history and family was evident in her passion for genealogy, where she spent hours tracing the roots of the Watson and Gardner families. A skilled pianist, Mary also enjoyed beating her grandkids in poker and spades games and cheering on her favorite basketball and football teams. She also enjoyed spending time at family events, and attending her grandchildren's athletic events, dance recitals and graduations. Her legacy is one of devotion—to her family, her faith, and the community she called home.

Along with her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband, her daughter Robin Robinson, her brothers Billie Gardner, Bobby Gardner, James Gardner, Johnny Gardner and Richard Gardner and her sister Delores Miller, as well as great grandson's Jaden and Jordan Gibson.  She is survived by her daughters, Sheree Wells and her husband Adrian of Desoto, Texas, Jacqueline Watson of Altus, Oklahoma, Pamela Watson of Altus, Oklahoma, Annette Jaye Watson-Crayton and her husband William of Norman, Oklahoma and Suzanne Watson of Wichita Falls, Texas as well as her brother Cecil Gardner and his wife Susan of Wichita, Kansas. Mary was the loving grandmother of 19 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and 1 great grandson.