Myrtle Elizabeth Barnett Watson passed away peacefully in her home in Richardson, TX on April 10, 2023, at the age of 86. She was born on August 26, 1936 in the family home in the Hickory Creek community in Hunt County, Texas. She was the youngest of 9 children.

After graduating from Wolfe City High School, she married the love of her life Arthur Watson in 1955. She lived most of her life in east Texas and the Dallas area, with short stints in Colorado and Washington while Art was in the army. They purchased their first home in 1967 in Garland, where they raised their children and she lived for 44 years. Her final years were spent living independently in Richardson at Twin Rivers Senior Living.

She had lifelong friends and beautiful memories from every location along the way. Myrtle was a gifted typist and secretary. She retired from SMU, where she learned multiple computer platforms and assisted Geologists with composing scientific documentation.

Her faith was important to her. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Garland for almost 40 years. She was a member of the Joy class, senior adult choir, and loved helping in the Friendship House. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who loved spending time with her children. She was a Girl Scout leader and committed baseball mom. She loved spending time with her grandson and savored every moment of his childhood.

A lifelong traveler, she visited all 50 states as well as several countries in Europe. She loved camping with her family and husband and was a member of Good Sams. The youngest of nine children, she is preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Watson, father, James Ivan Barnett, mother, Bertha Elizabeth Wilson Barnett, and eight siblings.

Surviving family members include her daughter, Carmella VanDuzer (Thomas), her son, Russell Watson (Angela), grandson Aidan Watson, and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.