Jack B. Watts

Jack Baker Watts, 90, went peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior on Feb 1, 2019 at Ashley Manor in Kimberly, ID.

Jack was born on Nov 15, 1928 in Houston, TX to James Leslie and Julia “Dooley” Baker Watts.   At age 16, he graduated from Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio, TX in 1945.  He began college at Southwest Texas State Teachers College (now Texas State University) in San Marcos, TX on a football scholarship and received his BS degree in 1949. During college, he enjoyed working as a commandant of junior boys at San Marcos Baptist Military Academy.  He attended night school to earn his Masters Degree in Education from Trinity University in 1955.  While in college, Jack enlisted in the USAF in 1951 and worked as a drill instructor until he was discharged in 1955.

Jack’s love of Idaho began in the summer of 1947 when he came with a college buddy, Kyle Waite, and worked at the new TF Recreation District.  He met Doris Young while in Twin Falls and they were married in Texas in 1949.  They moved to Pearsall, TX where Jack began his career in education by teaching math and coached football, basketball, track and softball.  Jack made his final move to Idaho in 1956 when he was hired by the Twin Falls School District as Dean of Boys and Vice Principal for Mrs. Vera C. O’Leary at Twin Falls Junior High 1956-1959. He was then principal at Morningside Elementary 1959-1963.  Jack and Doris adopted Bob and Mary Lou in 1958. 

In 1963, Jack became Robert Stuart Jr High’s first principal. Jack’s favorite color was green and chose the school colors, that remain the same today, as kelly green and white. Jack and Doris later divorced.  Jack married Jane Loomis in 1982 and was blessed with son, Tom.  They later divorced.  Jack was principal at ‘Stuart’ 25 years until his retirement from the TFSD in 1988 and recognized for his 32 years of service.  “I enjoyed every minute of my time with the teachers and students at ‘Stuart’.  We had a great team of educators and had a great school”.  He LOVED working in education and was respected by all staff, students and parents.  Jack married Myra Jean Allison in 1986 and gained four stepchildren.  Jean died in 1997.  In 2001, Jack married his longtime friend, Dianne Clark, who he had hired to work at Robert Stuart in 1980 and gained three more stepchildren.

 Jack was a member of the Twin Falls Reformed Church, the Jerome Country Club and delivered Meals on Wheels.  During retirement he enjoyed the Idaho outdoors hunting, fishing, tying flies, Dutch oven cooking, golfing, raising greyhounds, attending grandkids’ games, helping take school photos and writing poems. He loved surface arrowhead hunting with dear friends; especially on Brown’s Bench, his favorite place in the world.  Jack wants everyone to know ‘I HAD A GREAT LIFE!”

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, James and Julia Watts, his older sister Bobby Luchenbach, brother-in-law Luke Luchenbach and wife Myra Jean Watts.

Jack is survived by his wife of 18 years Dianne Watts, Twin Falls; Bob (Karolyn) Watts, Kimberly; Mary Lou (David) Taylor, PA; Tom (Jasmine) Watts, Reno, NV; Stepchildren Richelle (Mike) Eckert, Buhl, ID; Jon (Raeghen) Peavey, Carey, ID; Joe (MaryAnna) Peavey, Boise, ID; Cathy (Chris) Bell, Portland, OR; John  (April) Allison, Boise, ID; Mike (Karen) Allison, Boise, ID; and Pat (Marty) Allison, Seattle, WA; 17 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren and his faithful companion, HoneyBear.

The family would like to thank the staff at Comfort Keepers, Ashley Manor of Kimberly and Encompass Hospice for the love and care they gave to Jack.

A celebration of life will be held on Mon, Feb 11, 2019 @ 1:00pm at the Twin Falls Reformed Church.  Arrangements are under the direction of Rosenau Funeral Chapel.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Twin Falls Senior Center c/o Dianne Watts.