NANCY LEE WATTEN 1937 - 2019 WATTEN, Nancy (Jo) Lee Our mother, Nancy (Jo) Lee Watten was the first born to Ori and Alice Lee on January 29, 1937 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She left this earth peacefully December 2, 2019 (5 years to the day after our father died) surrounded by family and friends in Carrollton, Texas. She was raised, along with her brother, Jack and her sister, Susan, in Minnesota. Mom was well liked. She was popular in school and it was at Robinsdale High School where mother met, and fell in love with our dad, Paul Watten. Later in the Spring semester of her senior year at Kent State, Paul would become her husband of 55 years. Mom and dad pitched their first tent (and had their son and daughter, Steve and Christine) in Teaneck, NJ. They returned to Minneapolis where their daughter, Lisa was born and then, after a few years, they decided to pursue a new opportunity in Dallas, Texas. Eventually a daughter, Laura, was born here in Dallas. Mom was driven and successful in everything she did. Along with raising 4 kiddos, she always had a few "projects" going at the same time. Once her kids were school age, she went back to teaching and obtained her master's degree and bi-lingual certification by attending night school at UNT. She taught kindergarten for 33 years, mostly at Janie Stark Elementary. She was active in the CFB Softball Association by serving on the board, running the concessions and creating a scholarship for CFBISD softball players. She took a small break in 2005 to borrow one of her sister's kidneys. It was then she retired from active teaching, but never from volunteering. She served multiple terms on the CFBISD school board. She was an active member of AAUW and many other school, community and church related activities. For all of the time and effort she expended in community affairs and teaching, however, these commitments were secondary to her commitment to her husband and family. She imitated Jesus with an example of perseverance and hope. She did not give in! We were blessed to have a mother who was gentle, confident and strong but always faithful to us, our father, her grandchildren and her precious friends. She was a source of kindness and motherly love to many. But more than anything, our mother was the source of peace in our family, a truly priceless gift for which we will be forever grateful. Nancy was proceeded in death by her husband, Paul W. Watten, her parents Ori and Alice Lee, her brother Jack Lee and her sister Susan Burrato. Surviving members of her family include: Steve Watten and his wife, Rene', Christine Watten Wofford, Lisa Contreras and her husband, Richard, and Laura Watten. Her grandchildren include Shelbi Watten Rampy and her husband, Preston, Trey Watten and his wife, Ashley, Cameron Watten, Morgan Watten Morgan and her husband, Zeke, Tyler Bowen, Dillon Bowen, Sydney Bowen, and Tessa Contreras. Her great grandchildren include Everly, Bennett, Prescott Rampy and Collins Watten. She also had numerous nieces and nephews, extended family and lifelong friends everywhere. Visitation and a time of reflection is at 5 pm Tuesday night, December 17th at The Branch Church, 3035 Valley View Ln., Farmers Branch, Texas. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Nancy Watten Scholarship Fund c/o Mary Lovell 1307 Barrington Coppell, Texas 75019 Please make checks out to CFB AAUW Foundation.

Published by Dallas Morning News on December 17, 2019.