Marie Watson

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Ruby Marie Watson, 80, of Villa Ridge, Illinois, passed away at 3:15 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, at Baptist Health Hospital in Paducah.

Marie was born June 30, 1935, at Pulaski, Illinois, the daughter of the late Willis Richards and Wilma (Edwards) Richards.

Marie was a member of the Center Methodist Church of Olmsted, Illinois; a member and past officer for the American Legion Post 178 Auxiliary of Villa Ridge; and a retired bus driver for SMART Public Transportation and a former bus driver for the Meridian School District in Mounds, Illinois.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Willis and Wilma Richards; her husband, Lee Roy Watson, on Jan. 25, 2011; a son-in-law, Gordon Conant; a sister, Grace Richards; and a sister-in-law, Margaret Ann Richards.

Survivors include a daughter, Janice Conant of Villa Ridge; a son and daughter-in-law, Bruce and Robin Watson of Paducah; a brother, James "Jim" Richards of Mounds; a sister, Janet Sue (Paul) Farris of Villa Ridge; grandchildren, Kimberly Conant, Erik (Brett) Watson, Chad (Kim) Watson, Rebecca (Neil) Pullum, Travis (Ashley) Watson and Cindy Watson; great-grandchildren, Cameron Watson, Baylee Smothers, Braxton Watson, Peyton Watson, Benton Watson and Beckham Watson; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call Wednesday between 5 and 8 p.m. at Jones Funeral Home Villa Ridge, with auxiliary service at 6 p.m. by the American Legion.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Buddy Walls officiating. Interment will follow in the Cache Chapel Cemetery, east of Ullin, Illinois.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of memorials to the American Legion Post 178 or the Center Methodist Church in memory of Marie Watson.

To leave online condolences please visit, jones-funeral.com.