Lorraine V. Watson, 76, of Murphy passed away Monday, May 14, 2018 in a Murphy care facility. She was a native of Detroit, Michigan, but had lived in Sarasota, Florida throughout most of her life until moving to Murphy in 1991. Lorraine enjoyed bass fishing with her husband and the GLOW widow’s luncheons. She was a member of the Mountainview Community Church, where she participated in Small Group Bible Study and Women’s Tea. Her most recent enjoyment was taking part in her grandchildren’s lives.

She was the daughter of the late August and Charlotte Praet Van Bael and the wife of the late William Bruce Watson, who died July 26, 2014. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Leanne Watson Hand; a son, Robert William Watson; and two sisters, Florence C. Strickland and Beth S. McDaniel.

Surviving are three grandchildren, Jarred Hand and wife, Rebecca, Stacey Messer and husband, Derik, and Bobby Hand, all of Murphy; six great grandchildren, Mercedes, Johanna, Eric, Lauren, Ryan, and Rayland; a great great grandson, Bentley; and three sisters, Deanna E. Maus of Acworth, Georgia, Francis C. Baumberger of Fort Myers, Florida, and Susan H. Dawson of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Funeral services will be held at a later date in Sarasota, Florida. The interment will be Manasota Memorial Park in Bradenton, Florida.

A local memorial service will be held at a later date at Mountainview Community Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Lorraine V. Watson to the Warriors Veteran Outreach, c/o Dan Miller, PO Box 134, Murphy, NC 28906 or www.warriorsveteranoutreach.wordpress.com.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of local arrangements.