Edith Irene Watts

Edith Irene Watts, a longtime resident of Fallbrook, died peacefully early Sunday morning December 14, 2008, at the age of 79 at Palomar Heights Care Center in Escondido.

Edith was born Edith Irene Naylor to Dorothy and Joseph Naylor in Butler, PA, on March 21, 1929. She married her loving husband of 55 years, Russell H. Watts, on April 4, 1953. They moved their family to Fallbrook in 1963.

Edith spent her life devoted to raising her family and giving back to the community in which she lived. As a devout Catholic, she spent years working on fundraising for Mission San Antonio de Pala, where her children attended early school, as well as St. Peter’s Parish.

She generously donated her many talents over the years to help friends and strangers alike, including making beautiful wedding cakes, silk flowers, panoramic Easter eggs, quilts and many other beautiful arts. She spent a number of years working with literacy programs, teaching ESL adults to read.

When her children were growing up, Edith was also very active in the local 4-H club, both as an instructor in home arts and as a Community Leader. Edith will be remembered as one who always gave from the heart in the most special of ways.

She is survived by her devoted husband Russell Watts, Fallbrook; children and their families, Brenda Anderson, Oakland, CA, Loretta Craig-Hernandez, San Leandro, CA, Roberta Johnson, Chico, CA, and Paul Watts, Big Sur, CA; grandchildren Jaden, Tracy, Bethany, Kellen and Ian; great-grandsons Warner and Mason; and many wonderful and loving friends.

Edith is preceded in death by her parents; sisters Margaret Wilson and Edna Perry, both of San Antonio, TX; and grandson SSG Phillip Anderson of Columbia, MO, who lost his life in Iraq in March.

Visitation will be held at Berry-Bell and Hall Mortuary Chapel in Fallbrook on Thursday, December 18, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. with Rosary to begin at 1 p.m. The funeral Mass will be at St. Peter’s Catholic Community on Friday, December 19, at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Fallbrook Masonic Cemetery.

You loved and are loved, Edith. You will be missed by all whose lives you touched.