James Albert Watts

James Albert Watts passed away peacefully surrounded by his family in Lubbock, Texas, Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Chapel services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 30^th at 2:00 at Morrison Funeral Home. 

James “Jim” was born September 8^th, 1937, in Houston, Texas to Albert and Blanche Watts, the first of their three sons. He attended high school in Graham, Texas, graduating for GHS in 1955. He was a member of the ROTC and graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. Jim served four years in the Army. 

Jim was married on December 27^th, 1958, to his high school sweetheart, Yvonne “Von” Easterling, a 1956 graduate of Graham High School. Their lifetime love affair took them to Killeen, Dallas, Austin, Arlington, Texas, Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Cushing, Rush Springs and Duncan, Oklahoma. They returned to Graham in 1994 following his retirement from Halliburton and enjoyed several years of operating the JY Ranch. They returned to Lubbock in 2006, where they had started their life together. They were married for 56 years.

Jim was a wonderful and committed Christian man. He served the church as a deacon, choir member and member of a men’s gospel “New Ground” in Graham, Texas and loved to sing with his wife who played the piano. His successful work career saw him rise to various management positions up to and including Vice President. Jim had a passion for cars and He and Von enjoyed traveling to the western U.S and Canada as well as England. 

Jim is survived by his three children, sons Chris and wife Laura and their three sons Zach Watts and Cody Watts of Fort Worth, Texas and Reece Watts of Raleigh, North Carolina, David and his wife Sheryn of Lubbock, Texas and their two sons Justin and wife Ciara of Canadian, Texas and their two sons, Brewer and Kohen, and Nick Watts of Lubbock, Texas and a daughter, Amanda Watts and fiancé Jarrett Woodington of Amarillo, Texas and her two daughters, Hadley and Tinley and his daughter Nikki Beichler and husband, Norman, of Lone Grove, Oklahoma. Also surviving is a brother, Randall Watts of Asheville, North Carolina

Jim’s family are grieving the loss of a devoted father, grandfather and great grandfather. However, this profound sadness is overcome with the joy and certain gift that he is going home now to join his heavenly family and wife and adding a bass singer to the heavenly choir.

Flowers are welcome or gifts in lieu of flowers may be sent in his name to Southcrest Baptist Church, 3801 So. Loop 289, Lubbock, Texas 79423. ---‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything in all creation, will be able to separate us from the LOVE of GOD that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Romans 8: 38-39.