Lu Ann Ruth Watson (nee Mitchell), formerly of West Kingston, Rhode Island and Somerset, New York, passed away on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at the home of her daughter in Grande Prairie, Alberta, at the age of 87 years.

Lu Ann was born on August 6, 1934, in the small farming town of Somerset, NY. She was raised on a family-owned fruit farm with her parents, grandparents and 4 brothers. Tragically, her father passed away when she was 13. Lu Ann was a good student who enjoyed school and learning. She worked hard and graduated secondary school with high marks. Although she may have considered pursuing a higher education, circumstances dictated that she go to work to help with the family finances. Excelling at shorthand, she began her career as a clerk/secretary at the State of New York Agricultural Extension Center, later moving on to work at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

In the late 1950’s, Lu Ann met her future husband at a church young adult’s group. She also met Jesus during this time and dedicated her life to learning about him, serving in church and praying faithfully for her family, missionaries and others.

After marriage, the couple relocated to Rhode Island. Several years later, her two daughters were born. The remainder of her years were dedicated to homemaking. She was committed to her family and had a passion for researching and implementing all things about healthy eating and supplementation. She sewed many of her daughters’ clothing in the early years. Her hobbies included crotchet, knitting, reading, organic living and conservation. She was characteristically determined, private, curious, as well as proper and polite. She often wondered if an invention could be created to help with this or that, to make life easier.

Her marriage ended in divorce shortly before her daughters headed out on their own. Life was solitary for her during this time until she could no longer live on her own due to dementia. She lived with each of her daughters by turn for 3 ½ years. In her later years, she had forgotten some of her healthy eating habits. Sweets then became something she would hunt for almost every day, especially chocolate. Her memory slowly faded until she was forgetting how to do routine things on her own. However, she never forgot that her girls were significant to her, whether she remembered how they were related or not. She will be sadly missed by her children: Esther (Michael) Nacci-Grillo and Sarah (Dallas) Wooden; grandchildren: Austin (Shamayah) Wooden, Megan, Apphia and Judah Wooden; as well as brother Berton (Gail) Mitchell. She was predeceased by her father James Ray Mitchell; mother Mildred Mitchell; as well as brothers: James Ray Jr (Jeanette), Glenn Raymond, and Everett (Mary) Mitchell.

She will be quietly and privately remembered by those who knew and loved her.