Obituary of Edward Elton Watts

Edward E. Watts was born on April 11, 1927 in the County line Community (Hopkins/Rains) to Robert Edward "Buck" and Allie Carletta Henshaw Watts. He was the third of six children. He spent his younger years traveling around the area with his dad and siblings singing. His dad Buck Watts taught singing schools everywhere.

Ed attended County Line School throughout his junior high years and then went to Miller Grove during high school. During this time, he met Jerry Jane Hall. She went to school at Miller Grove. He knew she was going to be his future wife. The problem was when he went and asked her parent’s permission to date her, he was told to come back when she was 16. He was four years older than her.

Ed graduated high school then was drafted in the Army in 1945. He was sent to Seoul, South Korea. During this journey, he was administered a soured smallpox shot which almost killed him. He spent his 19th birthday in a Korean hospital. The Army sent a telegram home saying that he was not expected to live, but, being the strong person that he was, he pulled through. He was honorably discharged in 1948.

It took Ed quite some time to get back on his feet after such an illness but again, he had such an inner strength and strong will that he was able to do it. Now, he was able to date Jerry and on July 4, 1950, they were married. After 15 years of marriage, losing hope of ever having children, they were finally blessed with a little girl on November 3, 1965. Sandi Sheree Watts. In 1996, he became a Papaw with the birth of Madison Watts Holden, and then again in 1999 with the birth of Logan Wade Holden. Becoming a Papaw was one of the greatest milestones of his life.

Ed had a love for milling, and in the very early days of his marriage, he bought a sawmill from a guy in Emory and had it moved to Miller Grove. He milled with this mill until his late 70's early 80's and then he purchased a portable mill which sits in his yard today. He was 88 when he cut his last lumber. It just became too much heavy lifting for him at this point, but his love of trees and lumber remained with him. Throughout his milling years, he was also a farmer: he ran cattle, cut hay, and everything else that went along with this. He and his brother Lewis Watts always worked hand in hand. Anytime Ed had free time, he would be somewhere fishing. There is no telling how many fish he caught in his lifetime.

He and Jerry had thirty-four wonderful years together. On October 20, 1984 he lost her to a three and a half year battle with cancer. In the early 90's he re-married to Gloria Mullins. Over their twenty plus years of marriage he helped raise two of her grandchildren, Scotty and Jessica Mullins. Gloria passed away September 1 of 2016.

He continued to mill and fish and then became interested in moving and grafting pecan trees, thus his love of pecans began. Many trees in and around the area were planted and grafted by Ed Watts. He was known by many as the pecan man. His most famous customer was Mick Jagger. He moved several trees for him with Mr. Jagger riding with him in his tree moving truck. Ed said he was a really nice guy but had the biggest lips he had ever seen on such a little man.

For many years now, Ed could be seen driving around Miller Grove, Lone Oak, Point, and Emory. Every morning he could be seen eating breakfast at the Lone Oak Grocery Store. For the last twelve and a half years, he would be at Stacey's Fish Fry every Friday and Saturday night, just sitting, watching, and visiting.

Ed Watts was a very quiet, gentle, caring, and loving man. The best husband, father, Papaw, brother, and friend that could have ever been. He would have given the shirt off his back to anyone in need. He was also one of the hardest working men around. A pillar of the Miller Grove community, he was once asked "Have you lived here your whole life?" His response was "Not Yet!" Now, we can say "Yes." Ed Watts had a wonderful, fulfilling life for ninety-two and a half years. He was known and loved by many. He leaves behind a huge hole that will never be filled.