Obituary of Clarence John Watson

Clarence was born on May 8, 1943 in the town of Hawick in the Scottish Borders, the only child of Robert and Helen (Telfer) Watson. He spent his early childhood in the village of Yetholm, just five miles north of the border with England, an area renowned for its fierce patriotism and love of freedom which might just explain Clarence’s independent spirit and his intolerance of injustice. The family moved to Duns where Clarence attended school until he left to pursue his studies in Latin, Greek and History at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with a Master of Arts degree in the Classics. Thereafter, he completed his teacher training at Moray House College of Education in Edinburgh.

His first teaching post was a Primary 5 (Grade 4) class in the small mining village of West Calder. After two years, he decided to give in to his adventurous spirit and immigrate to Canada where he taught Grade 8 in Redvers, Saskatchewan. Family circumstances meant he had to return to Scotland where he took a post at Pathhead Primary School in Kirkcaldy,Fife, teaching Primary 6 (Grade 5). A political dispute at this time totally disrupted the Scottish Department of Education which led to Clarence’s leaving the profession to work in the O.R. at Victoria General Hospital in Kirkcaldy. When the position of Latin teacher at Windsor Regional High School was advertised, he took the opportunity to return to Canada after being accepted for the post. There he remained until his retirement in 1998 when he taught Grade 12 English, the Latin programme having been discontinued.

During his years in Canada, Clarence indulged his love of sports, especially curling and rugby. He and a fellow teacher founded the Black Bear Soccer team and co-organized the Apple Blossom Soccer Tournament for many years. He heavily supported the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the Cleaveland Browns and the Cleveland Indians (as they then were).

As a man of deep faith, he was a stalwart supporter of the Presbyterian Church in Windsor lending his beautiful Scottish tenor voice to the choir for many years and preaching on many occasions.

Clarence is survived by his wife of 56 years, Elizabeth (Redpath); his son, Robert (Angela) and grandsons, Jack, Cayden, Liam and Calum; his daughter, Helen (Darren) and grandchildren, Fiona and Graeme; and his son, Andrew (Carol) and grandchildren, Emma and Nicki. Also left to mourn his loss is his cherished “foster son”, Dave Beaton.

He will be greatly missed, especially by his cat, Sylvester.

Despite his deep love of his native land, Clarence always declared that his decision to come to Canada was the best one he had ever made. He appreciated the openness and friendliness of the Canadian people, their generous spirit and general willingness to accept “foreigners” like him.

Arrangements for cremation have been entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 419 Albert St., Windsor (902-798-8317). A legion tribute service and celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, December 21 in Royal Canadian Legion, Hants County Branch No. 009, 35 Empire Lane, Windsor. Donations in memory of Clarence may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 5826 South St., Halifax, NS B3H 1S6. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting: www.demontfamilyfuneralhome.ca

“Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
Ae farewell, alas for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I’ll wage thee.
Had we never lov’d sae kindly,
Had we never lov’d sae blindly,
Never met- or never parted,
We had ne’er been broken-hearted.”

Robert Burns