Harlie Lee Watts, age 93, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loved ones Monday, July 1, 2024.

Celebration of His Life: 11:00 am, Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at First Baptist Church of Saginaw, 300 N. Old Decatur Road, Saginaw, Texas.

Interment: 12:30 pm, Saginaw Cemetery

Visitation: 10:00 am, prior to the Celebration of His Life

He was born January 22, 1931 at a hospital in Decatur, Texas, to Harlie A. and Mattie Watts. He married the love of his life, Nona Belle Parr on September 16, 1955 and together they built an amazing life. They were apart for just 53 days before they were reunited in heaven.

Harlie was born in Decatur, Texas and lived his entire life on the same corner lot in Saginaw. This lot is where he raised animals, tended to an amazing garden, worked on anything with an engine, welded, and used his imagination to create. He and Nona Belle used this lot to build their family, raise children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They loved the most to host family gatherings and created so many memories there.

Harlie was well known in the Saginaw community for his large garden, fruit, and pecan trees, and his knowledge of Saginaw history. He had a front row seat to watch the entire city grow into what it is today. He enjoyed telling stories to anyone who would listen, joking, giving the ones he loved most a hard time, and working with his hands. The weekends were always for flea markets, and monthly trips to Canton First Mondays.

Harlie attended Saginaw School (now known as Saginaw Elementary). Throughout his life he acquired so many skills and experiences. He served In the United States Army, Corp of Engineers 1951-1953, was a volunteer firefighter in Saginaw, mechanic, competed in rodeo riding bareback broncos, worked many of the fields around us, and retired from Lockheed Martin after 47 years.

He was so proud of his work, skills, history, but especially proud of his family. He wasn't an affectionate man, but he was a good man who worked hard for the women in his life. Still managed to have a lot of fun with his girls and granddaughters. His whole world changed when his great-grandchildren showed up. He was so excited to buy them all the cute little baby things, their first boots and straw hats. Looking back at the pictures we noticed that if there was a baby or a puppy to be held, he was going to be holding it. He loved attending parties, special events, and family lunches with his four great-grandkids. He wouldn't hesitate to get down on the floor with them, pretend to play, or talk softly to them in that high pitched voice he only used with littles. He responded to "I love you" with "yea, or uh-huh" and told everyone he saw "Behave yourself" as they said goodbye.

Harlie is survived by his two Daughters: Winona Watts, Paula Grayson and her partner Rick Smith of Saginaw. Their two granddaughters: Rebecca Cox and her husband Corey of Saginaw, and Christine Dye and her husband Hunter of Fort Worth, their four precious great grandchildren Eli, Delaney, Grayson, and Elijah, and numerous nieces, nephews, family, and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years Nona Belle, his parents Harlie and Mattie, and his sister Flora LaFaver.

He was an amazing man, who lived an amazing life and impacted so many people in different ways.