Thelma Yvonne Watts

Thelma Yvonne Watts passed away peacefully in Lubbock, Texas, Thursday, April 23, 2015 after a long and incredibly brave battle against Huntington's Disease.  Graveside services will be held Monday, April 27, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in Pioneer Cemetery in Graham, under the direction of Morrison Funeral Home with Jerry Blake, First Baptist Church, officiating.  Visitation will be held Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Morrison Funeral Home.

Yvonne "Von" was born August 24, 1938, in Graham, Texas, to Haskell and Thelma Easterling, the second of their two daughters.  She attended elementary schools in Newcastle and Eliasville, Texas, and high school In Graham, graduating from GHS  in 1956. She was a 4-year member of the Graham High School Marching Band and was chosen Senior Class Favorite at GHS. She attended colleges at Texas Women's University, Texas Tech University, and Oklahoma State University.

Yvonne was married on December 27, 1958, to her high school sweetheart, James "Jim" Watts, a 1955 graduate of Graham High School. Their lifetime love affair took them to homes in Killeen, Dallas, Austin and Arlington, Texas, Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Cushing, Rush Springs and Duncan, Oklahoma. They returned to Graham in 1994 following Jim's retirement from Halliburton and enjoyed  a number of years operating the JY Ranch. They returned to Lubbock in 2006, where they had started their life together. Upon her death, the couple had been married for 56 years.

Yvonne was a beautiful, talented, Christian lady. She was an accomplished musician, and she loved to sing before her church families, accompanying herself on the piano. She was a faithful choir member in a number of towns their moves took them to. She also enjoyed working in positions in the banking, retailing and public accounting fields. She and her husband enjoyed traveling, with numerous vacation trips to the mountains of the western U.S. and Canada. Her most favorite trip was a month-long visit to England and Scotland, where she saw the Queen's Birthday Parade, with Princess Diana and young Harry accompanying the queen in her royal carriage.

She is survived by her husband Jim, sons Chris and wife Laura and  their three sons  Zachary of Denton, Cody and Reece of Fort Worth, David and his wife Sheryn and their two sons, Justin , a student at West Texas A & M, and Nicholas of their home in Perryton, Texas, and a daughter, Amanda Christian and husband Blair and their daughter Hadley Christian of Amarillo, and a daughter Nikki Beichler and husband, Norman, of Hillsboro, Missouri.  Also surviving is a sister, Rubyetta Cain and husband Bob Cain of Graham and their son, Bobby Cain and wife Ann of Georgetown, Texas, and their two sons, Trent Cain and wife Emilie of Conroe, Texas, and Adam Cain of San Antonio, Texas, and a daughter, Renee Spratlin and husband Kevin of Plano, Texas, and their son Lamar Ball of Houston, Texas, and daughters Madison Nobles who is attending Texas A & M, and Taylor Nobles of the home. Further survivors include two cousins, Jim McDonald and wife   Sharron of Corsicana, Texas and Sue Davis and husband Dan of Bedford, Texas, and a cousin, Mary Parks of Amarillo.

Yvonne's family is intensely grieving at the loss of a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. But this sadness is overcome with boundless happiness and joy with the sure and certain hope that she is home now with her Savior and Lord. She Is surely now a member of that heavenly choir and is probably looking for a piano to play.

Flowers will add to the beauty of this lovely child of the Heavenly Father, or gifts in lieu of flowers may be sent in her name to the sanctuary building fund of 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.