Obituary: Elaine Watson

Elaine Watson, a resident of Ann Arbor since 1984, was born on October 13, 1921, in Jackson, Michigan. She was the daughter of William Reno and Elsie “Feldkamp” Reno of Manchester, Michigan. She died on May 4, 2019. 

Elaine Watson attended school at Pleasant Lake and at Manchester. She earned to degrees (AB and MA) in English from the University of Michigan. Elaine Watson taught English in the public school system in Milan, Michigan for three years and then in the Dearborn school system , first at Dearborn High School and then at Henry Ford Community College. 

She married William Watson in 1949 and they had three children, David, Douglas and Diane. Elaine lived with her husband and their children in Paris in the years 1960-61 when her husband took a sabbatical year at the Sorbonne. She was active in the Dearborn Federation of Teachers in the ACLU. She belonged to Detroit Working Writers and the AAUW, each for over 50 years. 

She loved poetry and along with her book of previously published poems, she published two novels, a book of self-illustrated limericks, and memoir. She enjoyed the companionship of the Senior Adult group at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ann Arbor. She also worked as a volunteer in cataloging and storing acquisitions at the Bentley Historical Library. 

Elaine and William were married for 52 years. 

She is survived by her children David (Peggy) Watson of Manchester, MI, and their children; Douglas Watson on the big island of Hawaii; and Diane (David) Gooden of Loraine, OH and their children; and by several great grandchildren. 

A memorial service for Elaine Watson will take place at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church at Division and Catherine in Ann Arbor on Friday, May 24, 2019 at 11:00 A.M. with the pastor, Alan Gibson, reading the service. A reception will take place immediately after the service in the adjoining church recreation room. 

The family requests memorials to either St. Andrew’s breakfast program or Hospice Service of South Central Michigan.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.