Leveta Irene Watson

Leveta Irene Watson, age 98, of Kissimmee, FL passed away on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. Irene was born to Ralph & Ethel Smiser on 1/27/1920 in Assumption, IL. She was the oldest of 5 children. She attended school through the 9th grade.  She married Jacob Alvin Watson and they had 2 sons, Jacob Ralph Watson & Jerry Alvin Watson. They lived on Illinois St. in Assumption and later moved to St. John St. Assumption, IL.  

Irene worked at a garment factory in Assumption until it closed and then went to work in a garment factory in Decatur, IL. Jake worked in a coal mine and later worked at Caterpillar in Decatur. They moved to Decatur and Ethel Smiser moved in with them until Jake retired and they moved to Missouri. They loved to go boating, camping and fishing.  Jake died in 1976 and Irene and Ethel lived in there a couple more years and then they moved back to Decatur, IL.  Her sons, Jake married Marietta and lived in Decatur, and were school teachers. They had 3 children. Jerry married Shirley Howard and lived in Argenta, IL and had 4 children.  Jerry and Shirley moved to Kissimmee, FL after 2 of the boys were killed in an accident and Irene and Ethel moved to Florida also.  Irene worked in a custom furniture factory in St. Cloud, Fl.  Ethel Smiser had a stroke and died. Irene retired and loved to baby sit Jerry and Shirley's 2 children. She sold her home in Kissimmee to Jake and Marietta for a vacation home.  Jerry & Shirley built a small cabin in Murphy, NC and Irene lived in it for six years.  She loved living all by herself in the woods.  Jake called her a Hermit.  She loved working in the garden and she cut her own firewood for the fireplace.  Irene finally decided to move in with Jerry and Shirley in Kissimmee, FL because she was getting older.  She had a good life and it was time for her to settle down.  She lived with them for about six years until she fell and broke her hip.  She spent some time in the hospital and then in a convalescent home for rehab.  After about six months she moved back in with Jerry and Shirley.  Jake and Marietta would meet Jerry, Shirley and Irene for dinner once a week when they were in Florida. She had 4 Grandchildren: Mark, Angie, Lori, Cristina; 9 Great Grandchildren: 1 Great Great Grand Child:  

Visitation is Wednesday, April 18, 2018 Wednesday 5-7 pm at CONRAD AND THOMPSON FUNERAL HOME 511 Emmett St Kissimmee, FL 34741. A Funeral Service will be held Thursday, April 19, 2018 at 1:00 pm at the funeral home. Inurnment will be later in Macon County Memorial Park IL.

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