Janet Watson Obituary

Longtime Durango resident Janet Marie Fracker Watson died of cancer at her home Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009. She was 85.

Mrs. Watson was born to Stanley and Grace Fracker in Madison, Wis., on Sept. 13, 1923. Ancestors of both of her parents arrived in Massachusetts before the Revolutionary War.

The Frackers moved to Washington, D.C., when she was 4, and Mrs. Watson received her early education there.

She entered the University of Wisconsin in 1941, graduating with high honors in speech therapy in 1945.

After graduation, Mrs. Watson worked for the War Department at Borden General Hospital in Chickasha, Okla. She treated World War II veterans who had suffered hearing loss.

While there, she met and married Lt. John S. Watson, M.D., on Feb. 5, 1946. He was serving in the Army Medical Corps.

Dr. Watson was transferred to Rio Hato Air Base in Panama, where the couple lived for two years.

After Dr. Watson completed his military service, the Watsons lived in Chicago for several years before moving to Grand Junction, where Dr. Watson was chief of radiology at the Veterans Administration Hospital. In 1955, they moved to Durango.

Mrs. Watson enjoyed riding horses, skiing and camping with her husband and three daughters. Her major hobbies were knitting, needlepoint, weaving and sewing.

Mrs. Watson was active in a number of organizations in Durango, including the PTA, Girl Scouts, Great Books and other book-study groups. Mrs. Watson helped found the local United Way, and she served on its board for several years. She was a longtime supporter and volunteer for Planned Parenthood.

Mrs. Watson was a member of the Tuesday Literary Club and kept her active membership in the Reading Club of Durango for more than 47 years. She was a founding member of Friends of the Durango Public Library, working on all phases of various book sales until recently.

Mrs. Watson was a member of P.E.O., Chapter IT. She also was a 50-year member of the American Association of University Women, which recognized her in January by establishing a scholarship to Fort Lewis College in her name. She also belonged to Alpha Chi Omega sorority and Phi Beta, an honorary speech fraternity.

Mrs. Watson was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Dr. John Watson, in August 2007.

She is survived by her daughters Donna Stegner of Boulder, Linda Mangones of Keene, N.H., and Diane Swann of Davis, Calif.; five grandchildren; and eight nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 419 San Juan Drive. A reception will follow in Bowman Hall at the same location.

Memorial contributions may be made to Friends of the Durango Public Library, c/o Bob Boyer, Treasurer, 1900 East Third Ave., Durango, CO 81301; P.E.O. Chapter IT, c/o Sarah Burris, 112 E. 31 St., Durango, CO 81301, with scholarship program in the memo line; or the Janet Watson AAUW Scholarship, Kathy Redford, Treasurer, 51 Skyline Drive, Durango, CO 81301.