Anne Elizabeth Watson
Anne Elizabeth Watson, fun friend to many, and amazing mom, YaYa and relative, passed away at age 68, on October 30, after having been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on July 2.
Anne was born in Seattle on April 25, 1951, and grew up in Ballard. Her family later moved to Edmonds, and she graduated from Edmonds High with her friends of ‘69. She attended Western Washington University until the birth of her daughter took precedent over her college education. She learned to sew, knit, weave and cook during these years, and continued learning to craft and create until the end.
The apparel industry is where Anne spent most of her career. She made many long-time friends, while always folding in new friends along the way. She loved her happy hour colleagues.
Anne’s fantastic eye for design, playful personality and collector skills allowed her to turn her condo into the perfect place in which to entertain her friends with a good party and delicious food. She was the hostess with the mostest.
Anne always loved live music, so much so that she even got a tattoo on her wrist, in the form of a dotted outline, for stamps to be placed when going to see a show. Her love of music and enjoyment of night-life led her to learn to dance at the Little Red Hen, where she made more new friends, and grew her cowboy boot collection.
Anne and friends traveled to Europe many times, with Greece being a favorite destination. She enjoyed several trips to Maui and Cabo with her grand kids and other family members, where they had lots of laughs in the sun. Weekend getaways in San Francisco and Canada, at cabins and campgrounds in the Northwest, and picnics at Ballard beaches were other places she made rich memories with loved ones.
She was a big fan of the themed, dress-up Christmas Eve parties with family, Husky football tailgates, summer parties on Ashworth, and celebrating St. Paddy’s Day and summer solstice with friends.
Anne was cremated in her favorite red cowboy boots, with her emergency 20-dollar bill tucked inside. She leaves behind her daughter, son-in-law and grand kids, Heather, Jim, Adria and Brandon Cooper, her ex-husband, Craig Madsen, her brother, Richard Watson, her sister, Bonnie Hash, and many sisters- and brothers-in-law, and tons of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles “Chuck” Watson and Pearl Watson, and her brother, Vic Watson.
As a sign in her Crown Hill condo says, “She designed a life that she loved.” Those left behind will always remember her huge, twinkly smile.
Remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society, Evergreen Hospice or with a generous tip to your next live musician, wait staff or bartender.