Submitted by Family
Mary J. Watt, 81, passed away on Nov. 8, 2022, at her home in Chelsea, Okla.
Mary Josephine (McClain) Watt was born at St. John Hospital on Nov. 2, 1941, in Tulsa, Okla., to Ira Leland McClain and Lucile Priscilla (Branstetter) Morgan. Mary Jo grew up 7 miles west of Skiatook until she was 11 years old. She started 6th grade in Hominy, Okla., and attended there through graduation. She played clarinet in the high school band and was a part of the dance band called “The Teeners” with her mother, brother and other musicians. She was the Student Council Vice Pres., Buckette Editor, 4-year Honor Society member and Senior Girl’s State Representative. She married Sherman Riddle Jr. in her senior year. After graduation, they moved to Long Beach, Calif., where her husband was stationed for a time in the U.S. Army. They began their family there. They moved back to Skiatook, Okla., in 1964 to raise their three children: Lisa, Frank and Fawn.
Mary Jo married Harvey J. Watt on Dec. 17, 1972, at the Hitching Post Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. Together, she and Harvey moved their now blended family of 10 children to Adair, Okla., where she raised those ten and added two more to the family – Lucy and Leland. Mary Jo and Harvey were avid square dancers and enjoyed living life to the fullest – owning a huge dairy farm, serving in their church in the choir and through missions. Mary Jo was a member of the Adair United Methodist Church. Mary Jo had quite a bit of college education in computer technology. She worked as a Computer Programmer/Systems Analyst for the PepsiCo Company, Terra Resources and the Williams Company in Tulsa until the time of her retirement. After retirement, she ran an Insurance Business with her husband Harvey and also worked as a Tax Preparer and other contract jobs. Always a businesswoman until the time she needed to quit to care for her beloved husband, Harvey. Mary Jo loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren beyond words and ALL of her extended children and grandchildren of which there were many who called her Mom and G-Ma.
She is survived by 11 children, James Watt and wife Billie of Perkins, Okla.; Jerry Watt and wife Robyn of Salina, Okla.; Rodger Watt and wife Connie of Bluffton, Ill.; Lisa Boren and husband Roger of Langley, Okla.; Eugene Watt and wife Diane of Pryor, Okla.; Robert Watt and wife Billie of Pryor; Sherman Riddle III of Vinita, Okla.; Fawn Carroll and husband Steve of Vinita; Anita Sloan and husband Eddie of Locust Grove, Okla.; Lucy Yeager of Chelsea, and Leland Watt and wife Melissa of Oolagah, Okla.; 46 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; one brother, Raymond McClain of Mannford, Okla., and three nieces, Lori, Shannon and Cindy of Tulsa and the surrounding area.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Harvey; daughter, Cynthia Hoffman; two great-grandchildren, Brynn Martin and Benjamin Pinnell; sister-in-law, Ona Mae McClain and niece Sheryl Dawson-Smith. Celebration of Life services were held on Nov. 15 at the Adair United Methodist Church with burial following at Dawes Cemetery. Services were under the care and direction of Stephens-Key Funeral and Cremation Care in Pry
