Etta Webb Watson

Etta Webb Watson, native of Cedar Key and long time resident here, died Wednesday, January 3, 2007 in Georgia. She was 98 years old.

Mrs. Watson was born July 17, 1908 in Cedar Key to Nena Delaino Wadley and Edward F. Wadley. She and her six siblings were raised in Cedar Key, and she graduated from high school in Tampa.

She received her Teacher Certification from the University of Florida and taught school in a one-room schoolhouse in Sumner.

She married Douglas Drew Webb in 1929, and after living in many cities along the east coast, the Webbs retired to Cedar Key. Mr. Webb died here in 1971.

In 1977 she married her long-time friend Montcalm Watson, who died in 1988.

During her entire life, music was one of her primary interests. She had accompanied her first husband as he sang in talent shows. She shared her musical gifts with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was the church pianist at Cedar Key United Methodist Church for 33 years, retiring at the age of 90.

Community members passing by her house on 4th Street often remarked they could hear Miss Etta playing her piano, and many people enjoyed impromptu concerts and sing-alongs there. In addition to her music, Etta was involved in the Methodist Church, the Cedar Key Woman`s Club, the Cedar Key Historical Society, the Old Timers` group, and she loved playing bridge.

She served on the Cedar Key City Commission. She enjoyed gardening, and she took up painting in 1972.

The following is taken verbatim from her funeral program:

"In the memory banks of her two children, eleven grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren are times of wonderful vacations in her home. Memories are of boating on the Suwannee River, shrimping off the dock of their Orange Park, FL home, crabbing off the docks in Goose Cove, wonderful meals around her table and always the smell of freshly baked pound cake and a huge pot of hot fish chowder.

"She was a wonderful and gracious lady, weaving her life in and out of the lives of many friends in the places where they lived and especially in the lives of her children and grandchildren. Each knew they were the most special of all.

"Her life is a legacy to all who knew her and we are so grateful for her 98 years of life. There is much singing and rejoicing in Heaven as she joins her loved ones who have gone before her. She will be greatly missed."

Mrs. Watson is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Nancy Webb (Robert L., Jr.) Sutton; son and daughter-in-law James Wadley (June LeBlanc)Webb; grandchildren Lynn Sutton (Frank) Wigington, Donald P. (Frances Sheldon) Sutton, Leslie Sutton (Stan) Thomas, CDR James D (Laura Paris) Webb, Kathleen Webb (Lt. Col. Dave) Deep, Lt. Col. Jeff (Jennifer) Webb, Laura Webb (Matt) Rabren, Etta Denise "Edie" Webb (Tim) Oakley, Maureen Webb (David) Hearn, Brian (Amy) Webb, and Alecia Webb (Michael) Harrison.

Great-grandchildren include Robert and Jon Wigington, Anna and Lauren-Etta Sutton, Britany, Victoria and William Middleton, Olivia Thomas, Jimmy, Meghan, Ansley, Abby and Katie-June Webb, Kayla and Michael Deep, Paul and Hope Webb, Jacob Drescher, Colson and Sarah Rabren, Addison and Emma Hearn, and Timothy and Ryan Oakley.

Mrs. Watson also is survived by her sister, Nena Wadley Harris, and brothers Edd, Doug and Wayland Wadley.

Services for Mrs. Watson included a visitation, celebration and praise service in Marietta, GA, funeral in Cedar Key on Monday, January 8 and burial in Cedar Key Cemetery.

The family asks that any memorial contributions honoring Mrs. Watson be made to the Cedar Key United Methodist Church.

Arrangements were under the direction of Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home in Marietta, GA and Knauff Funeral Home in Chiefland.

Cedar Key News thanks George Sresovich for providing obituary information for Etta Webb Watson.