Leonard Carl Watson, II

Leonard Carl Watson, II, 72, of Bolivar, departed this life on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, at Regional One Medical Center in Memphis.

He was born in Memphis on Sunday, December 10, 1950 to the late Leonard Carl Watson, I and Sally Ruth Long Watson.  

Carl received his early education in Hardeman County and was a 1968 graduate of Bolivar Central High School.  Graduating from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1973 with a degree in Agricultural Education, he did his student teaching at McNairy County High School in Selmer.  He then went on to work as a farmer, logger and with his brother, Roy, in their land excavation company.  In past years, he had been a director for both the Hardeman Farmers' Co-op and Farm Bureau.

Mr. Watson was a former deacon at Parrans Chapel Baptist Church and was active in the Bolivar First Methodist Church.  He served his state and country as a member of the Tennessee National Guard from 1971-77.  In his spare time, Carl, who was an avid outdoorsman, enjoyed fishing, hunting and especially getting together with friends and family to kick-off dove season each year.  

A Godly man who was faithful to take his children to church, he loved attending sporting events in which his children and grandchildren were involved.  

He leaves his wife of 20 years, Sandy Watson of Bolivar; daughters, Susanne Freeman and Margaret (Nick) Matlock, both of Jackson and Jade Byrd of Bolivar; son, Aiden Byrd of Bolivar; stepchildren, Joseph and Miranda Byrd; brother, Roy Watson of Bolivar; grandchildren, Harrison Allen Freeman, Houston Bennett Freeman and Margo James Matlock, all of Jackson; niece, Sally (Nick) Giarraputo of Orlando, FL; and nephew, Pete (Jackeline) Watson of Baltimore, MD.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Hank Watson Freeman.