Michael Watson

Michael Lane Watson

During a drive through Ventura County one time, Mike can be remembered saying, “Oxnard? Who’d ever want to live in Oxnard?!” And then ironically buying a condo and living there for the majority of his life. He always wondered if it would be God’s sense of humor to have him die in Oxnard, but now he can rest in peace knowing that he passed away in Camarillo instead.

Michael Lane Watson was born to the late Farrell Watson and Jo Ann de Bruin on May 9,1956, in Roswell, NM. Life never took it easy on him, even from the get-go; the divorce of his parents was a crushing impact on his world. As he matured through his formative years, there was a lot of familial discord. He would savor the good times, especially around the holidays with his grandparents and siblings. The big breakfasts in his grandmother’s kitchen were among his favorite times. “It was a wonderful place where a kid could feel like a grownup by getting his own cup of coffee. I suspect that there was always more milk and sugar in that cup than coffee, but it was fun just the same.”

He attended Eastern New Mexico University and was accepted into a work-study program with the U.S. Navy. After graduating in 1978 from ENMU, Mike took a job at the Naval Facilities Systems Office in Port Hueneme, CA, as a computer programmer trainee. He would work his way up through the program and eventually transfer as a data analyst to the Point Mugu Naval Base to finish out his career.

In 1985, Mike met the woman he would choose to devote the rest of his life to. Despite his reservations about fraternizing with a coworker, the pair started dating on a regular basis. In October of that same year, he asked Monica Heaney to share his life with him and after two years of planning, they were married on the 13th of June 1987.

In summer of the next year, a culmination of his personal demons would bring him to his knees, shaking the foundation of his life, beliefs, and marriage. With the support of loved ones, he slowly began to rebuild himself, facing the struggles that came every day with the notorious stubbornness of being a Watson. That chapter of his life was forever a cornerstone of his courage and determination, constantly driving personal progress and growth in his life.

In 1991, his first daughter was born. Determined to do what was right for his family, Mike continued to work long hours as the breadwinner so that Monica could stay home and be the mother his little girl needed. They grew to a family of four in 1995 with the birth of a second daughter. He continued to make sacrifices to ensure the best lives for his “girls”.

Mike would find time to share his love of camping and coasters with both family and friends, turning some into traditions that would be cherished by all who took part. The holidays would continue to be a special time in his life, during which he would regale loved ones with Christmas letters of the annual chronicles of the Watson clan. He was an all-or-nothing kind of guy. Once he made his mind up about something, no force in the world would dissuade him from following through. No matter what, he always put his family first and made sure he was there when it counted.

Towards the latter years, he began to develop heart conditions that would culminate in several procedures and needing a pacemaker/defibrillator. He struggled greatly the last few years, unable to get much sleep due to insomnia and finally retiring from his job with the Navy in 2018. Despite struggles in early 2021, in recent months there was a light at the end of the tunnel when he went in for another ablation on June

17, 2021. No one was prepared for that light to be God calling him into eternity. We will miss his wordsmith ways, his jokes and puns, and most of all his integrity and Commitment to everything he set his mind to.

Michael is survived by his devoted wife Monica Watson of Oxnard, CA, and daughters Alyssa Watson of Oxnard, CA, and Michaela Watson of Camarillo, CA. Also left with a few decades of cherished memories are his siblings Stephen Watson of Albuquerque, NM, and Julie Watson of Corrales, NM.

We were resolved to let his final resting place be as meaningful as possible. In an effort to close that circle of life, we are bringing him back home to Roswell, NM. Michael will be interred Thursday, July 15, 2021, at South Park Cemetery after a funeral service at 1:00 pm at Ballard Funeral Home of Roswell.

We wish to thank Reardon Funeral Home of Oxnard for their tireless support.