James "Jim" Edward Watson

James "Jim" Edward Watson Jr., 85, of Hot Springs Village passed away peacefully on April 9, 2012. Jim was born to James E. Watson and Fannie Elizabeth Watson on March 14, 1927, the last of eleven children in Clarks, Louisiana. Jim served in the U.S. Navy in 1945 and 1946. Following his honorable discharge he married Lorene Causey on July 5, 1947 and settled in Springhill, Louisiana where he worked for the paper mill owned by International Paper. Jim served in the paper industry for 44 years before retiring at the James River mill in Neheola, Ala. as manager of the power and recovery department. Upon retirement, he and Lorene moved to Hot Springs Village where they lived until his death. After his conversion at the age of 22, Jim remained active in churches wherever he and Lorene lived. He was active in Barcelona Road Baptist Church and the Covenant class until he became home bound two years ago. Jim loved to fish, hunt and play golf. He will be remembered as a loving husband and father who, among many virtues, made friends easily. He will be missed by his wife and children but they know his suffering is over and in heaven with Jesus. Jim is survived by Lorene and three children: Jim and Cindy Watson of Salem, Oregon, Fan Timpani and her husband Pat of Little Rock and Kay Arsenault and her husband Paul of Hot Springs Village. There are six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Visitation will be held at Caruth Village Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m., today. The funeral will be 10 a.m., Thursday at Barcelona Road Baptist Church. Burial will be at CedarVale Cemetery. Donations can be made to the Hospice/Palliative Care Unit of the VA Hospital, Ward 6E/LR, 4300 West 7th Street, Little Rock, Ark. 72205 or Shriners' Hospital for Crippled Children, 815 Market Street, Galveston, Texas 77550-9969. Guests may register at www.caruth-halwe.com.