John P. Watson

John Patrick Watson, born February 15, 1932, passed away on January 28, 2025. John was born
in Pickering, Yorkshire, England, to Walter and Bridget (Barry) Watson. He is preceded in death
by his parents, half brothers George and Brian Watson, sisters May Grimstone, Betty Lloyd, and
Angela Gilmore, nieces Christine Lloyd, Ann Laidler, nephews, Francis Gilmore, Martin Gilmore
and James Gilmore, and by Louie Charlton, the mother of his two daughters.
John is survived by his wife Allison (“Billie Jean” Morris) of Lumberton, North Carolina,
daughters Catherine (Howard) Bernstein of Clearwater, Florida, and Claire (Lee) Zelasko of New
Auburn, Wisconsin, and grandson Alex Dennis of Newport Beach, California. He also is survived
by niece Josephine Springett, New Zealand, nephews David Lloyd, John Lloyd, and Edward
Gilmore of greater Birmingham area in England, each with their own spouses, life partners and
children living in various parts of the world.
John’s father Walter was a stonemason in a long line of family members employed by the
Countess of Carlisle at Castle Howard in Yorkshire, England. Walter was born in 1880, served in
WWI, and spent his later years in the West Midlands to be close to his daughter Angela. John’s
mother, Bridget, from Waterford, Ireland, died young. John and his three sisters lived at various
times with family members (“Aunty Madge”), at the Convent at Pickering, and various “digs”
that Walter found.
At age 14, of necessity, John left school to support himself and find housing. Beginning as a
butcher’s delivery boy, then becoming a dentist’s assistant in the primitive era of teeth-pulling.
His Army National Service was spent in the UK during the Korean War years where he was a
medic and corporal.
Like his father, John told detailed stories from his life and times that spanned childhood years
during World War II, running away from the Convent with his sister Angela, his Army years, and
of motorcycling mishaps across France with his best friend Len Fairclough.
John relocated to the West Midlands and began a career as a purchasing agent with H.A. Baugh
& Sons, a steel supplier. After a short time, he began his own business, West Midland Steel
Stockholders with a partner. This business thrived over a 20-year period. In the 1970’s, he took
the company public and sold to Expamet of Hartlepool, England. John, as a director, traveled
extensively on business and, ever keen on the United States, opened a steel processing plant in
north Atlanta in 1975. Always the consummate entrepreneur, John subsequently began two
successful construction materials businesses: South Lath, with distribution centers in Florida,
North and South Carolina, Georgia and Texas, and lastly, Stucco Outlet Supply in Orlando,
Florida.
In 1984, John re-married, to fellow business person and creative talent, Allison. They worked
together at various business ventures and home remodel projects over their 40-year marriage.

They resided in Buckhead, Georgia, Charleston, South Carolina, Winter Park, Florida, Hayesville,
North Carolina, Pinehurst, North Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia.
During the 2008 recession, John and Allison decided to fully retire and continued making their
home in historic Savannah and in recent years, The Landings.
John’s hobbies included a passion for photography with film Leica cameras, motorcycles, history,
research, business, and travel. For many years in England, he enjoyed boating on the Shropshire
Union Canal in his narrow boat. He embraced the concept of “life is for the living”, creating
adventure for himself, opportunities for others – whether family, employees, business partners
and friends – and his concern, and contribution for care to homeless populations.
He will be missed tremendously by his wife, daughters, grandson, and the many people who
had the opportunity to have known him over his long life.
A celebration of life for John’s family will take place in the future in England. The family requests
that in lieu of flowers donations may be made in his name to a homeless shelter in your
community.

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