Ernest Ray Watts

Ernest Ray Watts, 95, passed away on December 21, 2024 in Twin Falls, ID. Ernest was born on August 3, 1929 in Perryville, PA to Ray and Florence Watts. He had 7 siblings - brothers Elno and Richard, and sisters Josie, Jeanette, Vernetta, Viola and Jean.

 Ernie didn’t have an easy childhood. When his parents divorced at the age of 10, he was sent with his youngest brother and sister to an orphanage. Circumstances at the boys home were awful and traumatic. Fortunately, his second attempt at running away was successful. He was able to find work and helped to support his mother financially, allowing her to retrieve his two siblings from the orphanage. This was a keystone experience in Ernie’s life. He frequently shared stories with friends and family about what he endured and how it formed his devotion to hard work and family.

 Ernie’s reputation for dedication and work ethic began in those early years. His first jobs were on various farms, earning fifty cents a day. He especially loved his time working with draft horses and enjoyed telling stories about those happy memories.

 At the age of 16 he started working on a “tree gang,” logging and climbing trees and poles. It was said there wasn’t a tree or pole he couldn’t or wouldn’t climb and he was often called on by power companies to help out. He was proud of this work. At 92 years old, he climbed and trimmed the oak tree in his backyard, just to prove it to himself that he still could.

 It was during those early days on the tree gang that Ernie first laid eyes on Juanita Larimer and that was it! He told his co-workers, “I’m going to marry that girl!” After a few scuffles with some young men who also had their eyes on her, he did in fact marry her that curly-haired beauty. They began their 75-year marriage on October 17, 1947.

 Ernie later was in the Merchant Marines and spent his time during that service on the ore ships on the Great Lakes. He also worked at Wheatland Tube and Sharon Steel, both in Pennsylvania. He even spent some time in the oil fields in Wyoming. Ernie was a talented craftsman and spent much of his career building anything and everything. He built houses, schools, stores, and condos from Pennsylvania to Colorado, Nevada, and Idaho. When he wasn’t on the job, he was often building or remodeling for friends or family. There was nothing he couldn’t fix or design, and he enjoyed all of it. So many people benefited from his many talents. When the grandchildren and great grandchildren came along he made something for all of them: jewelry boxes, doll houses, toy chests, wagons, wooden blocks and little tables and chairs.

 Even more important than work was family, and Ernie started his at a young age. His son Thomas was first, with Joseph following 22 months later. Then came three girls in a row: Betty, Pamela, and Kathy. Finally, Ernie Jr. completed the family. In addition to his six children, Ernie also took in his two nephews at the request of his dying sister. It was no small feat raising a large family on small wages. At times he worked two or three jobs and never complained. He always had time for his kids. They were always in the mountains - hiking, camping, and swimming in the summer. Or sledding in the winter on his handmade bob-sleds - all kids flying down those snow covered, thorn-bushed little hills. Ernie loved taking his family to all the places he loved growing up. Indian caves, estates he worked on and even the strip mines where all of the kids ran around and picked wild blueberries. Every weekend was family time, often including four or five extra neighbors that would pile up into the back of the big, red Dodge pickup. Ernie also spent time coaching little league baseball. His sons Tom and Joe both considered him a great coach.

 Ernie loved to hunt and fish and taught his three sons to do both. The girls did some, but weren’t as thrilled with it as Tom, Joe and Ernie Jr. One of his most cherished trips was to Quebec, Canada with his son Joe, where he shot a big bull moose. Family and friends came to know “The Moose Hunt” story well, through repeated slideshows.

 Ernie cherished his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “Grandma and Grandpa Watts” played a huge part in all their lives. He loved passing out cookies and candy, ensuring everyone left with a sack of groceries. He always promoted his “3-C Diet”: Cookies, Candy, and Chips. Any grandbabies that slept over with Grandma and Grandpa would always receive a bed-time lullaby played on the harmonica. As they laid by the fireplace they enjoyed hearing “Big Rock Candy Mountain”, “Turkey in the Straw” or “Red River Valley”. These memories will be cherished forever.

 Grandpa Watts could be stern, and he had rules in place, but he certainly loved to play. He had a mischievous and goofy sense of humor - always looking for an opportunity to pull a prank, tell a joke, or swap out random words with slightly different ones (“now, you better settle down and get serial… this is very impotent”). Ernie loved to make people chuckle or shake their heads. Those who knew him can easily recall the trickster gleam in his eye and his deep raspy laugh, smoothing down his mustache as he calmed down from a giggle fest.

 He enjoyed teaching and explaining things to his family, but when the time called for it, he could be in the role of student as well. His greatgranddaughter Ashley loved to play “School” and would require Grandma and Grandpa to be her pupils. She thought grandpa was a good student but said he “needed to pay attention to detail.” He laughed about that for the rest of his days.

 Ernie enjoyed painting and became a rather prolific artist in his later years. He gave all of his pictures away to family and friends. Even his doctor is displaying one of his paintings in his office.

 Ernie was devoted and dedicated to his beliefs, never wavering from his faith and trust in the Lord. He was an ordained preaching elder in the Christian Biblical Church of God, of which he was a member for many years. Ernie’s legacy will live on through his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all who knew him. He was hard working, honest, and strong, both physically and mentally. He will be greatly missed. 

Ernest was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Florence Watts, his seven siblings, his wife Jenny Juanita; a son Thomas R. Watts (WY); great-granddaughter Abigail Eldredge (ID); son-in-law Joel King (VA). Ernest is survived by son Joseph Watts (Dixie) of Jerome, ID; daughter Betty King (Allen Chapman) of Mesquite, NV; daughter Pamela Brown (Steve) of Filer, ID; daughter Kathy Gibson (Bill) of Australia and son Ernest Watts Jr. (Kelly Jo) of WY. He also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews, 10 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren. Also his special friend Kay, who was a blessing to him at the care facility 

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family in the guestbook section below.