Black Friday the stock market crashed, and The Great Depression began.
87 days later, on January 21st, 1930 in Denver, Colorado. Blessing Maag and Hugh Doan Watson welcomed their first surviving son, John Dudley Watson. John was a child of the depression. Seven years later a baby sister Dorothy Jeanne was born. The family of four then moved into a new home built especially for them. This home stayed in the family for 80 years, through four generations.
John attended and graduated, with honors, from Denver’s East High School in 1948. It was there he became a clarinet player and occupied the first chair in The Denver Youth Symphony. After graduation it was on to Oberlin College and then Yale Divinity School.
John married Diane McClintock just before his senior year at Yale. Before they left to serve his first congregation in Troy, NY they welcomed twin sons Hugh Dudley and William John (Bill). The family of four was completed with the arrival of Kathryn Elizabeth (Kate) while John was serving as the Associate Pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Springfield, IL. The family made one more stop in Glendale, OH before finally settling down in St. Joseph, Mo.
In February of 1970 John was called to serve as pastor at First Presbyterian Church at 301 N. Seventh Street. He went to work establishing a vital church and building a congregation committed to serving the Christian faith with the spoken word and magnificent music lead by Jerry Anderson. In 1982 he received his Doctorate of Ministry from McCormick seminary in Chicago. His concern for the Christian mission involved serving all of God’s children.
Were you in need of help and support? John and Joyce Raye Patterson established InterServ where John served as the first president of that board.
Were you sick with no insurance and in need of care? John headed the committee that saved the Social Welfare Board when one of our mayors decided it was not the responsibility of the city to maintain health or dental care for those who could not afford it. John always maintained the best gift he gave the city was when he hired Loah Stallard to head that organization.
Need a ride to work or the hospital? When it was decided it was no longer profitable to run city buses, John headed the committee that put together our current transit system.
Hungry? The Open Door Food Kitchen was the brain child that developed as he watched folks coming to the downtown churches asking for money for food.
Music is for the soul. John loved beautiful music and attended the Kansas City Symphony and Opera. He was also a member of the St. Joseph Symphony board.
As an avid reader he lined his home with books and served on the St. Joseph Public Library board.
In retirement his joy was planning another trip. Mexico, England, France, Italy, Israel, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, and a cruise on the Mediterranean.
He was granted a lifetime membership in the Downtown Rotary. He also served on United Way selection teams and the Arts Council. He was an active member of the Heartland Presbytery serving as a moderator, an interim presbytery executive and delegate to General Assembly three times and was chair of multiple committees.
In retirement he served churches in: Hiawatha, Ks; Prairie Village, Ks.; North Kansas City, Mo.; Liberty, Mo.; as well as Hope Church in Cosby, Mo.
John’s life was a life of service to his loving God, the church of Jesus Christ, to the community, and to his family and friends. He was a devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife Diane, sons Hugh Watson (Sallie Tulchin), Bill Watson, daughter Kate McAllen, granddaughters Sarah McAllen Hicks (Craig), Cassandra McAllen, and great granddaughters Chloe Hicks and Elizabeth Cline, nieces Susan Usherwood, Sandi Pauhlke and nephew Ted Denson.
Farewell Services and Public Livestream 1:00 P.M. Saturday, First Presbyterian Church. The family will gather with friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Friday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. The family suggests memorial contributions to First Presbyterian Church, InterServ, or the Social Welfare Board. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.
