Winnie Bernice Watson

Winnie Bernice (Collins) Watson, age 94, of Weatherford, Texas passed away on the morning of Friday, April 14, 2023, in Weatherford, Texas. Winnie was born August 27, 1928, in Ryker, Arkansas to Gladys Velma Gibson. Around the age of 10, Winnie left Newton County Arkansas with her parents and headed to the Bay Area in California. Even as a child, Winnie worked several jobs to help support her family.

Winnie was a very hard worker with a sense of commitment and perseverance. She lived in Albany, California from 1952 until 2017. She was very proud of her career working for Pacific Telesis as a telephone operator for over 37 years. Winnie retired from the telephone company in December 1992.

She and Roosevelt enjoyed traveling to Washington State to visit her daughter and family. She came to live with her daughter, Katherine, and son-in-law in November of 2017. She lived with them for four years and then moved to West Fork Assisted Living in Weatherford, Texas. She enjoyed attending North Side Baptist Church in Weatherford. She loved her family and was proud to be a beloved wife, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother.

Winnie was preceded in death by her beloved husband of fifty-nine years Roosevelt Watson; daughter, Teresa Zirlen; mother, Gladys Velma Gibson; stepfather, Andy Collins; brother, Roy Collins of El Sobrante, California; sisters Arnnie Shullick of Lorain, Ohio, and Clydus Watson of Springdale, Arkansas; and great grandson, Phillip Michael Emmert.

Winnie is survived by her daughter, Katherine Varkados Bain of Weatherford, Texas; sister, Johnnie Gail Collins Harlan of Grove, Oklahoma; four grandchildren: Carolyn Emmert of Weatherford, Texas and Charles Kelly Bain, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Sean McBride and Patrick McBride of Oregon; six great-grandchildren: Jeremy Emmert, Brandon Emmert, Charles Emmert, Katherine Emmert of Texas, and Brian Bain, and Rachael Bain of Washington State; and four great-great-grandchildren, Paisley Emmert and Pyper Emmert of Texas, and Kyson George and Landon Bain of Washington State.

Interment will take place on May 3, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the Sunset View Cemetery in El Cerrito, California.

In lieu of flowers, the family would love for contributions to be made in honor of Winnie Watson to one of the following: Plant a Tree Movement, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, or Cook Children’s. Please see below for more information on donating to those causes.