Grace E Watts

Mrs. , 85, of Dallas City, Illinois passed away Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 6:38 P.M. at the Fort Madison Community Hospital.

She was born in Decorra, Illinois, the daughter of Dave B. and Clara E. Tracy Lair. On February 13, 1943 she married William C. Watts at Jefferson Base in St. Louis, Missouri. He preceded her in death on November 9, 2003.

She attended school in Dallas City and while living with K.C. and Blanche Conner in Fort Madison, attended school in Fort Madison. Following her husbands retirement from the US Air Force in 1973, they retired to the farm home in Dallas City. She was a member of the Dallas City First Christian Church. She enjoyed traveling and helping people.

She is survived by one daughter, Elizabeth Watts-Rieke of Burlington, Iowa, 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, two brothers, Clarence Johnny Lair of Lomax, Illinois and Richard Lair of Fort Madison, one sister, Edith Robinson of Monmouth, Illinois and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, one daughter, Linda Sue Marshall, one granddaughter, Mary Elizabeth Smith, five brothers and one sister.

Services will be held at 9:30 A.M. Monday, January 31, 2011 at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Dallas City with Pastor Will Fowler officiating. Burial will be in the Keokuk National Cemetery. The family will meet with friends at the funeral home on Sunday, from 1:00 until 3:00 P.M. A memorial fund has been established for the PAWS animal shelter in Fort Madison in memory of her daughter, Linda Sue Marshall, the Dallas City First Christian Church or the St. Josephs Indian School, Chamberlain, South Dakota.