Donald Watson

Donald Charles Watson was born to Mabel and Charles M. Watson on April 22, 1927 in Staten Island, NY.

He graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in the Air Support Division until his Honorable Discharge in 1946.
Donald then attended St Michael's College in Burlington, VT and graduated in 1952.

Don arrived in Texas while working for The Lambert Co.  It was in Amarillo that he met his future wife, Rose Mary Herrmann. They were married May 1, 1954 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Amarillo, TX.  They went on to raise 4 children- Gina, Eileen, Chuck & Greg.

Don was brought into the oil and gas business by his father-in-law, G.C. Herrmann, and upon G.C's death, he became president of G.C. Herrmann Co., independent oil and gas producers, with additional interest and operations in farming and ranching.

Don was also founding president of Watson Exploration,Inc. and Watson Operating Co.
Some of Don's professional accomplishments include induction as president of Panhandle Producers and Royalty Owners Association, a capacity that brought him to Washington, D.C. to speak to Congress about the importance of domestic oil and gas production.  He held committee positions and offices in Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners, Association, Independent Petroleum Association of America, Cattle Feeders Association and was a former president of Coronado Cattle Feed Yard.

He was a pioneer in water flooding in the South Plains and Oklahoma, and was the first individual to diversify from growing hybrid grains in the Dalhart area of the Texas panhandle by growing potatoes and sugar beets.

Don was a devout Catholic and a tireless servant and volunteer for the Catholic Diocese of Amarillo.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and he formed Columbian Squires, a junior chapter of Knights of Columbus at Price College.  He served as District Governor for Serra Club and served on the Catholic Bishops Committee under five bishops in the Diocese of Amarillo.  He was named the first president of the Texas Catholic Conference.  After years of laymen’s service to St. Joseph Catholic Church Don and Rose Mary became founding members of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Amarillo, TX.

After retirement, Don and Rose Mary moved to Plano, TX in 1999 to be closer to their children and grandchildren living in the Dallas, Houston and Austin areas. Don was the devoted father of four and an engaged and loving grandfather of six, showering all with love and attention and knowledge and tales of epic moments in his long life.  He leaves behind a legacy of integrity, kindness, hard work, service, friendship, love and laughter.

Preceded in death by his parents, his darling sister Jean Lambert and his precious youngest son, Gregory Paul, all of whom, no doubt, were welcoming him through the gates of God's kingdom when he died on April 15, 2017, just one week shy of his 90th birthday.

A good and faithful servant, he is survived by his wife of 62 years, Rose Mary, his daughter and son-in-law, Gina and Jon Banister and their children, Mary Catherine, William and Robert Banister.  His daughter Eileen Gariepy and her children, Gail Gariepy Schoen and her husband Will, Gregory Gariepy and Paige Gariepy.  And son Charles M. Watson II (Chuck) and his partner Dale Guettler, as well as an abundance of nieces and nephews and their families, all greatly loved by Don.

Funeral mass will be at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Amarillo, TX on Friday, April 28th at 10:00 a.m.  Inurnment will take place at Llano Cemetery.

Donations in memory of Donald C. Watson may be made to Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.