Archie E. “Pete” Watson
Died Feb. 25, 2014
MESICK
- Archie Eugene “Pete” Watson, 81, died Feb. 25, 2014 in Traverse City.
Archie was born Feb. 18, 1933 in Mesick,
Wexford Co., to Elba Adrian Clark and Vivian (Roceil) Furney. Pete was adopted in 1943 by John L. Watson, who
was a very loving father; he died Feb. 25, 1914 in Williamsburg, Grand Traverse
Co.Archie was married to Gladys May Brimmer on Aug. 23, 1952 in Williamsburg, Grand
Traverse County and later divorced in 1970.
He was a professor at Western Michigan University for nearly thirty years. Pete was well loved by his students and hundreds of them kept contact with him for many years after his retirement.
Archie, was awarded the Teaching Excellence Award for Education and Professional development at one time. Part of the article reads "Watson has been at WMU since 1970 after previously teaching and serving as department head of the Instructional Media Center at Michigan State University and teaching in the Flint and Flushing Public Schools. He received two degrees from Michigan State-a B.A. in 1956 and an M.A. in 1960.
In 1979-80 he was vice president of the Michigan Association for Media in Education and has been co-chairman of the Certification Committee since 1978."
Pete is survived by two sons: Archie Eugene “Gene” Watson II of Williamsburg, Grand Traverse County, John David Fielding Watson of Potterville, Eaton County; a half brother, Robert (Mary) Clark of Sylvania, Lucas County, OH and a half sister, Joan (Chuck) Clapper of Howell, Livingston County, MI; eight grandchildren and several great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter Carla Rochelle Burgoyne.
Graveside services and urn burial will be in Williamsburg Cemetery, Williamsburg, Grand Traverse County, MI on Sep 28, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. Services will be performer by Rev. Nate Starkey of Williamsburg Methodist Church.
Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice."
Please share memories with Pete’s family online at www.martinson.info.
Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.
Loved Archie's smile whenever I saw him in Sangren Hall at WMU.
ReplyDeleteArchie was a friend and my supervisor when I finally did my "student teaching" at two schools (middle and high schools) in Paw Paw, MI, because he "knew I could handle it" being a non-traditional student and a second career post nursing for over 20 years! I certainly loved both jobs-teaching and nursing and continued in both back and forth until age 60. He was the reason I loved teaching as he set me free from the hospital life I had come to know and finally became a family member to family once I entered schools and then a Public Health nursing position which was mostly listening and teaching. He taught me "to start where they are" and go from there. I taught for 5 years in Vicksburg Middle School and lost that job to an administrator who took my job via his contact once soft funding ran out for his 5 year project. My room and curriculum were spotlessly "ready" for anyone to take over due to my good training with Archie. I am sad to hear he passed away. He touched many people and students through those of us that he trained. Cheers my friend and "we'll see you some fine day!" Carol
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