Farrell Lane Watson

Farrell Lane Watson passed away peacefully on June 10, 2013, in Rio Rancho, New Mexico . Farrell was born in Roswell on November 24, 1930 to Albert and Clara Watson. He grew up on their dairy farm, which later became a cattle feed lot. After attending college for two years and marrying JoAnn Buck in 1950, he managed his father's cattle ranch near Fort Stanton . After his father sold the ranch in 1958, Farrell first worked for Case tractor, then on an Atlas missile site outside Walker AFB. He returned to ENMU at Portales in 1963, joined Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity, and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration in 1967. He then became the accountant for his father's feed lot until it closed in 1980. He married Kitty Woody in 1969, and the two enjoyed life until she passed away in 1998. Farrell was briefly a Roswell city councilor in 1980, before resigning and becoming Assistant City Clerk and later Director of Purchasing. Farrell so enjoyed farming that when he retired from the city in 1999, he pursued his vision at a property the family lovingly called The South Ten. He moved to the Albuquerque area in 2011. Farrell is survived by his children, Steve (and Brooke) of Albuquerque, Julie (and Holly) of Corrales, and Michael (and Monica, and granddaughters Alyssa and Michaela) of Oxnard, CA; stepchildren Pam (and Bill) Bonahoom, and Ken (and Vicki) Woody, all of Albuquerque; brother Donald (and Marilyn) of New Zealand; sister Barbara (and Bill) Gibson of Houston, TX; aunt Dusty Reid of AZ; friend Lea Rohr-Fraser; and numerous cousins. The family is grateful to: doctors and staff of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Eastern New Mexico Medical Center and Kymera Cancer Center, and the New Mexico Cancer Center; Dr. Evan Nelson; Ralph Zych, P.A.; the staff at Villa del Rey Retirement Inn and Assisted Living; and finally, Jennifer Riggs, Lou Ella Scott and the staff at Sandia Springs Retirement Community in Rio Rancho, Hospice Compassus, and Riverside Funeral Home. Farrell liked to tease and joke, was very generous, and had compassion for animals. According to his wishes, no funeral service will occur. You may donate in memory of Farrell Watson to Heifer International, 1 World Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202, www.heifer.org , or the rescue operation C.A.T.s, c/o Mary McGee, P.O. Box 3216, Roswell NM, 88202. Arrangements entrusted to Riverside Funeral Home of Albuquerque, 225 San Mateo Blvd. NE, (505) 764-9663.