Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Grady Watson Jr., 83, of Advance,  died on Aug. 20, 2019 at the NC VA Veteran’s Home in Salisbury.

He was born June 2, 1936 in Ashe County, a son to the late Grady Watson Sr. and Vetra Blackburn. He was also preceded in death by: his wife, Mabel Myers-Markland Watson; his step-son, Alton Markland; his brothers, Ben and Don Watson; and his sisters. Melba Watson-Owens and Geraldine Watson-Owens.

He served honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a proud Marine and served in the Korean War, where he was wounded. He was a member of the Elbaville United Methodist Church. He worked as a truck driver for more than 35 years and loved driving trucks. He also owned Ken’s Drive-In and the G&M Game Room on Salem Avenue in Winston-Salem. He loved the Shriners organization and their parades and supported them often and he also loved working and watching the cows in the field.

Survivors: his sons, John Watson and Mark Watson; daughters, Jenny Watson-Thomas (Danny Myers) and Robin Watson-Carrington (Alan); brother, Kenneth Watson (Ruby); brother-in-law, Don Owens; step-children, Pat Cope and Angela Markland Bailey (Larry); 3 grandchildren, Johnathon, Shane and Brandon Watson; 2 great-grandchildren, Christian and Jacob; 6 step-grandchildren, Chad, Brett and Brooke Markland and Brian, Kyle and Adam Bailey; 8 step-great-grandchildren, Ben, Maddie, Collin, Bella and Lyra Bailey, Kaycen and Maxwell Markland and Sophia Hartley; and many other extended family members and friends.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, Aug. 31 from 2-3 p.m. at the Elbaville United Methodist Church in Advance. A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. at Elbaville, with Brother John Palmer officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Memorial : Elbaville UMC Local Mission, PO Box 324, Advance.

Condolences: daviefuneralservice.com.