Susan Watson

Susan M. (Kelshaw) Watson, 67, of Gallatin, TN, passed away on November 14, 2021, after a brief battle with cancer. Susan was born on July 8th, 1954, to Wilbur and Sara (Bertolino) Kelshaw. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Pamela Watson; granddaughter, Emily; siblings, Alan (Chris) Kelshaw, Kathy (Kelshaw) Slattery, Gary Kelshaw, Jimmy (Bev) Kelshaw, Michael (Liz) Kelshaw, and John (Linda) Kelshaw; along with several nieces and nephews.

Susan graduated from Newark State College (now Kean University) with a bachelor's degree in teaching. In 1979, she married Alfred (Al) F. Watson, and in 1981, gave birth to her son, Thomas. In 1989, the family moved from New Jersey to Fayetteville, TN. They lived on 16 acres with horses, goats and dogs for several years. Susan worked in a retail bakery outlet store until she retired in 2011. She was preceded in death by her husband, Al, in 2004, and her parents, Wilbur in 2004 and Sara in 2017. Susan and Al loved to travel, and went to many places, including China and Aruba.

Susan's favorite place to vacation was the beach, and she collected sand from nearly every beach she visited. After Thomas and Pamela were married, Susan began taking an annual trip to the beach with them and made sure they took a family photo each year.

In 2009, Susan became a grandma with the birth of her granddaughter, Emily. She loved being a grandma and had a very special relationship with Emily. Susan loved doing arts and crafts and sharing corny jokes with Emily.  She loved buying things for her, whether it was a little treat from the dollar store, or a new bike to ride at Grandma's house. Emily spent at least part of every summer break staying with Susan, spending the week going swimming, going to museums or movies, and playing outside in Grandma's big backyard. In 2019, Susan moved to a new house in Gallatin to be closer to Tom, Pam and Emily.

Susan was also a voracious reader of thriller/suspense novels, and loved putting together puzzles. She was immensely proud of her son and loved to brag to friends and family about how he was doing at any given time. When Emily started school, Susan made sure to attend the grandparent's day events, and as many of the after-school programs as she could. Her photo albums are filled with photos of Emily through the years, and the walls of her house are filled with the family photos she insisted get taken every year.

Visitation with the family will be held at Hendersonville Memory Gardens on Thursday November 18, 2021 from 2-4 pm. In lieu of flowers, please send a corny joke to a loved one.