Rose Mary Watson

Rose Mary (Callaghan) Watson, age 78, died on February 13, 2022, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. “Little Mary Callaghan” was born on July 29, 1943 and was the daughter of Doris Madeline Dutcher and William Joseph Callaghan, and a Cedarville native.

Rose Mary graduated from Cedarville High School class of 1961. She married Richard Donald “Don” Watson Sr., a California native and a member of the U.S. Air Force stationed at Kincheloe Air Force Base in 1963.

Their first child, Dawn Marie, was born in Michigan, but then the Air Force moved the family to California, where their second and third children, Vicky Lynn and Debbie Sue, were born. Mary was a full-time homemaker who enjoyed dressing her girls up in Easter Bonnets and dresses and going on long walks with three little girls in a stroller.

Before long, the Air Force moved the family again, across the country, and across the world, to diverse locations such as Dover, Delaware; Minot, North Dakota; Williams Air Force Base, Arizona; and Adana, Turkey. In 1972, her youngest child and only son, Richard Donald” Donny,” was born.

Mary enjoyed traveling, and living at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, where she shopped in the Turkish Bazaars, enjoyed the sights, and traveled to exotic Mediterranean locations like Athens, Greece. She relished an international lifestyle of travel, shopping, visiting her many friends, and supporting her husband, a dedicated career Non-commissioned officer in the Air Force. She also loved watching Don play baseball and was his biggest fan and cheerleader.

Mary settled for many years in Arizona, where her kids completed school and left the nest.
Her grandchildren knew her as “Grandma Mary,” who loved to sing karaoke and play video games with them. She was at her very best when caring for children and the elderly. She worked in retirement communities and truly loved her job and the residents she assisted.

She finally moved back to her home and where her heart had always been, Cedarville, Michigan, to reconnect with family, friends from long ago, and her roots. Mary experienced poor health for the last couple of years and finally joined her many loved ones who had passed before her. She is at last in the eternal joyous afterlife with her beloved Don, dancing a slow dance while they look lovingly into each other’s eyes and smile.

Mary is survived by her four children, Dawn, Vicky, Debbie, Donnie; and her many grandchildren, Jamison VanOosbree, Eric VanOosbree, Hanna VanOosbree, Dillon VanOosbree, Shelby Heard, Ashton Sutton, Andrew Watson, Katrina Laundrup, Lars Laundrup, and Signe Laundrup.

A Memorial gathering will be held on March 3, 2022, from 1:00 P.M. till 2:00 P.M. at Galer Funeral Homes & Cremation, in Pickford, Michigan. The Memorial Mass will begin at 2:00 PM.

Interment will be at Cedar Cemetery, in Cedarville, in the Spring.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.galerfuneralhomes.com.