Memorial

Catherine "Cathy" Watson, 73, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at St. Luke's Hospital after the cancer she had battled spread rapidly.

Cathy was born on December 12, 1951, in San Diego, California, the daughter of Cletus and Catherine (Halligan) Nannemann. With a father in the Navy, she moved around a lot before they settled down in Marion, Iowa. She was united in marriage to Michael Watson in November 1976. They lived in Marion raising six boys before finally welcoming a girl. Cathy achieved a remarkable milestone later in life by becoming an LPN and dedicated her career to caring for others at Bickford Cottage, a senior living facility in Marion. There she not only found a purpose but also gained a second family through her incredible co-workers. Cathy's compassion and unwavering dedication to helping others were hallmarks of her character, a legacy defined by boundless kindness. Even during times of illness or pain, Cathy's selflessness never faltered. Her greatest accomplishment, however, was raising her seven children, whom she cherished as her pride and joy. Her love for family extended to her 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, with whom she enjoyed countless moments of joy, growth, and shared activities, Cathy's life was a testament to the power of love, resilience, and care. Cathy enjoyed trying to remember which child had which name. She also enjoyed vague movie trivia, where she would offer a generic plot and actor descriptions so that you could try to figure out what movie she was referring to. When bored from that, she would wait near the stairs to be nervous of any children that may come close.

Cathy is survived by her children, Michael Watson, Chad (Mindy) Watson, Eric (Candace) Watson, Bryon (Angie) Watson, Robert (Arielle) Watson, Sean (Nancy) Watson, Leah (Mitch) Johnson; grandchildren, Kylie, Brianna, Kullen, Leone, Harlynn, Julian Robles, Sara (Juan) Martinez, Lily, Joey, Corrina, Everett, Rory, and Charline Johnson; and great grandchildren, Juan and Nellie.

Cathy was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Michael Watson in 2006, and brother, James Nannemann.

A visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, December 21, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids.  A private burial will be held at a later date.