ST. JOSEPH, Louisiana — Memorial services for William Wade Watson, 85, who died peacefully Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019, will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Christ Episcopal Church in St. Joseph with the Rev. Gregg Riley officiating.
Visitation will be from 12:30 until service time Wednesday at the church.
Mr. Watson graduated from Joseph Moore Davidson High School in 1952 (class of eight.) He attended Tulane University and graduated with a degree in business administration in 1956, and then attended Tulane University Law School where he earned his juris doctorate in 1958. He was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and the Tulane Law Review. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity. Bill was very active in campus life and participated in a number of fraternity and campus football, basketball and softball events.
After college, Bill served in the U.S. Air Force as a judge advocate from 1958 to 1960, at Eielson Air Force Base, Fairbanks, Alaska. He was called home to work at the Bank of St. Joseph and Trust Company, which subsequently became Cross Keys Bank. He was employed at the bank from 1960 through 2004, serving as president and chairman of the board from 1969 to 2004. A dear banking friend best described Bill as a noble voice of reason in the banking industry and no one could express a position on the issues quite like Bill. He was president of the Louisiana Bankers’ Association in 1987.
One of his proudest accomplishments was starting the Lake Bruin Golf and Country Club with George and Barbara Bagley and being president of the club for the first seven years. Bill was an avid reader and published “High Cotton, High Water, High Times” which he complied from his great-aunt, Lucille Watson’s diary she kept in the early 1900s on Cross Keys Plantation. Bill was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church, serving in the vestry and as treasurer for a number of years.
Bill was an avid and vocal football fan. Sarah, his first grandchild, dubbed him “Touchdown.” Soon it became a term of endearment used by all. Touchdown was well known for his conservative convictions and passionate letters to the editors on a broad array of subject matters. When having fun with a group, he would often quote and old country friend and say, “people have more fun than anyone I know.”
Bill loved his dogs, Lake Bruin, sports wagering, telling jokes, Galatoire’s, old fashions and people of all ages. He loved to keep an eye on his daughter and grandchildren on the Find My Friends app. God knows he will not need an app to keep up with us anymore. His last day was happily spent on his pier with family and friends and watching golf.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Philip Brooks Watson Sr. and Roslyn Newell Watson; one brother, Phillip Brooks Watson Jr.; and one stepson, Adam David Nations.
Survivors include one daughter, Rebecca Watson Vizard and husband, Michael, of St. Joseph; two grandchildren, Sarah Scott Vizard of New Orleans and Ross Vizard and wife, Brooke, of Nashville, Tennessee; his former wife and best friend, Katie Adams Watson of Natchez and her children, Adrian Sandel and wife, Lisa, and Kate Nations Seal and husband, Charles, and her grandchildren, Ashley and Will Sandel, and Charlie, Matthew and Katie; three nephews, Scott Watson and wife, Mary Lynn, Brooks Watson and wife, Karen, and Ben Watson and wife, Linda; and a number of great-nieces and great-nephews.
He also leaves his rescue beagle, Lou Lou, to mourn his passing.
Honorary pallbearers will be the current and former directors of Cross Keys Bank, Ross Vizard, Parks Watson, Will Watson, Philip Watson, Adrian Sandel, Charles Seal, Ryan Sartor, Bob Cudd and Larry Baker.