Douglas Allan Watson

Douglas Allan Watson, 70, of Chesnee, SC and formerly of Rocky Mount, NC, died on June 9, 2020 after suffering a heart attack.

Doug was born to Norman “Jim” and Dorothy (Shultz) Watson on Jan. 24, 1950 in Charles City, Iowa. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the US Army, serving in Germany. He returned to Charles City and started his career in engineering at White Farm Equipment Co. and then at John Deere in Cedar Falls, IA. In 1985, he moved his family halfway across the country to Rocky Mount, NC to work at what is now Honeywell until retirement.

Doug was the consummate outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, competitive shooting and arrowhead hunting over the course of his life. He loved NASCAR, eventually building a man cave so he could watch his races uninterrupted. Doug knew a little bit about everything, and also knew how to build or fix just about anything. After retirement, he loved to build things for his children and grandchildren. He was the master of the grill and made the best chicken wings on earth. Anyone who knew Doug had a “Doug story” – his stories were legendary and hilarious. He could be described as a “true character” and “really something.”

Doug was preceded in death by his father, Jim. He is survived by his adoring wife, Cheryl Placek of Chesnee SC; mother Dorothy of Charles City IA; brother David Watson and wife Jacquie of Charles City IA; children Gretchen Mathison and partner Katharine Cannon of Durham NC, and Nathan Watson and wife Wendy of Rocky Mount NC; stepdaughters Taylor Placek of Charlotte, NC, and Haile Placek and husband Wesley Richardson of Charlotte, NC; grandchildren Miller, Gray and Everett Mathison, Brianna Cannon, Porter Watson, Matt Rhodes, Jayden Mozingo, Piper Sanjule-Placek, and Xander Richardson; aunt Frances Starkweather of Norwalk, IA; niece Jodi Watson; ex-wife and mother of his children Rachel Watson; father of his stepdaughters Richard Placek; and many cousins and friends.

In lieu of flowers, Doug requests that you vote Donald Trump out of office in November.