Obituary of Ronald William Watson

A Twin Falls Landmark, everybody called him Coach Watson. He was Celtic and from the English Follets which were descendants of Normandy (Viking). He came from the Shetland islands where the Vikings lived with the Scottish and is fitting that he was a University of Idaho Vandal. He was very generous with his love, and he loved rough carpentry with a chainsaw. Ron’s favorite movies were Lonesome Dove, Deliverance, and Mountain Men. Ron passed away on October 11, 2021, at the age of 82 from complications of infection at St. Lukes Hospital, Twin Falls, Idaho. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah November 3, 1938, to William Follet Watson and Marie Lucille Tillotson. His parents were from McCammon, Idaho and his father was a truck driver on the SLC route. The Tillotson’s were one of the first families in Eastern Idaho and the Watson’s in Northern Utah. His Grandfather Israel Ezra Watson was one of the original settlers of Hazelton, Idaho after leaving McCammon, Idaho. To be close to family, his father accepted a job with CFC Freightlines in Twin Falls, Idaho. Ron’s family moved to Twin Falls, Idaho near Harmon Park, where he grew up playing baseball and swimming. He was known as “the harmon park kid” as he and his siblings had so much fun having a playground, swimming pool, army tank and baseball fields. In grade school he was the football kickoff returner and ran back 3 touchdowns and 1 for 99 yards in one game. He graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1958 where he sang in the choir and lettered in varsity basketball and baseball. They called him “jet” because he was so fast. He played Twin Falls American Legion Baseball and in 1956 they won the Idaho State Championship and then he coached the Twin Falls Cowboys. After that he was drafted by the Milwaukee Braves farm club but then went to the U.S. military. In 1962 he served 6 months active-duty U.S. army reserves with an honorable discharge. He was stationed at Fort Bragg where he played baseball, drove the Colonel’s jeep, and sang in the choir where Elvis Presley had been 6 months before. He then attended the University of Idaho where he met his love, Miriam Eleanor Macknight from Jerome, Idaho and they were married September 10, 1962. “Mimi” worked while Ron studied, and they had three children, Randy, Eric, and Sydney. He was a 2-year Idaho Vandal baseball letterman and graduated in 1966 with a B.S. in Education. He went to work for the Twin Falls High School as a Science Teacher and Sophomore Basketball Coach. In the summers he ran the Bruin Bean Rogueing crew where he hired many high school kids to rogue beans. After Sophomore Coach, he was elevated to head Varsity Coach in both baseball and basketball. He always maintained that his success was due to the players winning attitude and efforts, great student body and community support. After 15 years in education, he was offered and accepted a management job with Musser Seed and was eventually promoted to Branch Manager. After a merger and saleout, he accepted a job as branch manager at Dorsing Seeds which he performed for 15 years. He was always hard working whether he was picking spuds, building fences, mounting ski bindings on the weekends at Sherwood’s Sport Center, or weekend trips with TF Bruin teams, or 30 years as a Garden Seed Broker. He had fond memories of his activities at Harmon Park (the Harmon Park Kid), scout troop 66 of the First Presbyterian Church, and his employment at Roper’s clerking under a great mentor, John Roper who encouraged and helped to continue his dream to play college baseball and obtain a degree. Ron’s professional associations were 4th District Coaches Association, Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, Past President of the Idaho/Oregon Seed Association, Past President of the Idaho Seed Council, and Past Member of the Twin Falls Rotary Club. He loved his family and served them well. They spent many good times fishing, hunting, camping, boating, wood cutting and many years in 4-H Leadership. He loved animals and especially dogs as Miriam and Ron spent many precious hours raising sheep and many litters of springer spaniels and loved golden retrievers. Ron is survived by his 3 children, Randall Watson (Twin Falls), Eric Watson (Mccall), Sydney (Tony) Pfau of Bellevue. Also survived by his sisters, Marilyn Ulrich, Sandy (Mike) Broadwater, and his brother Larry (Pam) Watson. Many cousins, nieces and nephews, and his sister-in-law Allison Batdorf. Two precious granddaughters Mariah Gregory and Spenser Pfau. He was preceded in death by his wife Miriam Eleanor Watson, parents Bill and Marie Watson, sister-in-law Judy Watson, and many aunts and uncles. His service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, Twin Falls, Idaho at 12:00 p.m. November 13, 2021. A private burial for Ron & Miriam will be held at Sunset Memorial Park at 11:00 am for the family. To his family he expresses a deep and everlasting love and to his friends a great appreciation of your friendship. Ron wishes any donations would be made to the animal shelter.