Grady Watson, 75, of Coloma, passed away Thursday, May 11, 2023 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo following an extended illness.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home in Coloma with visitation beginning one hour prior to the service. Burial with Military Rites will follow at Coloma Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the North Berrien Military Rites Team. Those wishing to share a memory or leave a message for the family may do so by selecting the Guestbook link on this page.

Grady was born April 11, 1948 in Paintrock, Alabama, one of eleven children born to Raymond and Sarah Watson. Following High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. After Basic Training, Grady served his enlistment as a Shipfitter and achieved the rank of Second Class. He deployed on multiple sea tours to include aboard the USS Oriskany. Grady's Naval service also encompassed two tours in Vietnam, one of which was with a Riverine unit (commonly referred to as the Brown Water Navy). After his honorable discharge from active duty, Grady continued to serve in the Naval Reserve. Grady also earned his Associates Degree from LMC and worked at (and eventually retired from) Consumers Power at the Palisades Nuclear Plant. Grady was an avid gardener and enjoyed fishing and hunting.

He is survived by his two children, Carl (Karey) Watson of Coloma and Crystal (Brad) Sams of Fredericksburg, VA.; his sister Patricia (Sam) Quinn of Benton Harbor; his brothers, Lawrence (Audrey) Watson of Benton Harbor, Bob (Rose) Watson, Jim (Sherry) Watson and Don (Dawn) Watson, all of Coloma; five grandchildren, Grady (Hailey) Watson, Nikolaus Sams , Meris Watson, Catherine Sams and Audrey Sams; and his great granddaughter Emberly Watson.

Grady was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Teresa Watson, a brother George Watson; and four sisters, Mary Pounders, Marilyn Patti, Sue Machado, and Sharon Watson.