Ruth Lea (Harkness) Watson Obituary (1939

Ruth Lea Watson, 79, a long time La Grande, Oregon resident passed away on May 29, 2018, in Boise, Idaho. A Graveside service will be held on June 8, 2018, beginning at 12:00 Noon at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Baker City, Oregon with Pastor Jesse Whitford officiating the service. Ruth was born April 9, 1939, in Little Rock, AR to Eugene and Pearl Harkness. Her family moved to Northeastern Oregon shortly after she was born. In 1945 they moved to Molalla, OR where she attended school, worked in strawberry fields, other various jobs and at a cannery. Then moved to Baker City where she married Robert I. Watson on July 12, 1960. She became a rancher's wife and a mother to two boys. In 1967 they moved to La Grande where they raised their two boys and sold Avon for almost 20 years. Ruth enjoyed watching nature, animal and rodeo shows on T.V., listening to country music, reading romance novels, collecting pig knick knacks and feeding squirrels. She also enjoyed spending time at their family ranch in Keating and spending time with her family especially her grandchildren and great-granddaughters. Survivors include her husband Robert of La Grande; her son Douglas (Michelle) of La Grande; granddaughter Stephanie Barnett (Kirk) of Stanfield; grandson Douglas (Morgan) of Athena; grandson David of Athena; great daughters Kylie Barnett, Billie Barnett, Emerson Watson; her sister Billie Dix of Forest Grove; numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; sisters Freda, Emma; brother Thurlow and son Daniel. Memorial contributions in honor of Ruth may be made to the American Cancer Society through Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel at 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.