GREENVILLE – Rev. James Willard Watt, Sr., of Greenville, KY passed away joyfully in his home at 8:50AM on Friday, December 31, 2010. He was born in Cromwell, KY on March 30, 1921, to the late Lee and Dona Watt. Under a “hardship case” at age 16 he was part of C.C. Camp that built Hoover Dam. He surrendered to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in 1952 and was licensed and ordained by Crabtree Avenue Baptist Church in Owensboro, KY. He served as a minister of the gospiel for 58 years, starting with his first pastorate, Pack Baptist Church in Rumsey, KY. He continued to pastor churches in Daviess, McLean, Union, Pike, and Christian Counties in Kentucky, and also Pine Lakes in Florida. He served as Associational Missionary in Lynn, Graves, and Pike Baptist Associations, and retired as Associational Missionary in Muhlenberg Association in 1986. While serving Pike County, he started several missions, 75% of which became self-supporting churches. After retirement, Bro. Watt was a “church planter” for the Kentucky Baptist Convention. During this time, he pastored two churches and baptized eighty, He then served as a missionary in Idaho and in Southern California. At age 85, he continued to serve as an interim pastor. He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Daisy Anderson Watt; two children, a daughter, Thelma Watt (Charles) Shouse of Thousand Palms, CA, and a son, Rev. James Willard (Pat) Watt, Jr. of Greenville, KY; one sister, Violet Watt King, of Daytona Beach, FL; six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; many close and beloved friends. Funeral services will be held at Tucker Funeral Home in Central City, KY. Visitation will be open to the public at 4:00PM on Sunday, January 2, 2011. The funeral will be at 1:00PM on Monday, January 3, 2011. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in Livermore, KY. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Gideon’s International. Online condolences may be made at www.tuckerfuneralhomes.com.

GREENVILLE – Rev. James Willard Watt Jr., 73, of Greenville, passed away at his residence on Thursday, February 20, 2020. “Bro Jim” was born on July 28, 1946, in Owensboro. At the young age of 17, he met and married his beloved wife of 56 years, Pat Morris, who devoted herself to him and his call to the ministry when he surrendered to preach the gospel. He was ordained by Livermore Baptist Church in 1964. He graduated from Butler County High School and later attended Campbellsville College and Southern Seminary. Bro. Jim first began his service as pastor in 1964 at Roseville Baptist Church in Roseville, KY. In the years to follow, he served as pastor for the following churches: Beech Grove Baptist, Three Springs Baptist, Oak Hill Baptist, Jamestown Baptist, Liverpool Baptist, Hawesville Baptist, Belfry Baptist, Bethlehem Baptist, Beechmont Baptist, Beechland Baptist, and Curdsville Baptist. In conjunction with pastoring his congregations, Jim also worked as an investigator for neglected and abused children, and as an advocate for women suffering from domestic violence. Although he officially “retired” in 1995, he continued to supply at various churches throughout Muhlenberg County and surrounding counties. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Greenville. In most recent years, Jim was well known for his creativity and his love for bringing laughter and joy to those he met. He loved writing, playing guitar, and at age 72, began painting beautiful and personal works of art that are treasured by his family. Although health issues impacted him tremendously during the last 20 years of his life, they did not prevent him from being a champion for the broken-hearted or cause his impact on the lives of others to lessen. This is evident in the legacy of love and devotion he leaves behind for his congregations, friends, and most of all, his family. He was preceded in death by his father, Rev. James Willard Watt, Sr.; his father-in-law, Russell Slaton Morris; and his mother-in-law Katherine Bell Morris, who was like a mother to him. Survivors include his loving wife, Patricia Morris Watt; mother, Daisy Anderson Watt; daughters, Lorrie (Mark) Finegan of Owensboro, Amy (Mark) Driskill of Greenville, Bethany (Jeff) Travis of Greenville, and Kelly (T.J.) Teague of Greenville; grandchildren, Ryan Finegan, Liam Finegan, Ryan Driskill, Sydnie Driskill, Quinten Travis, Eli Travis, Delaney Teague, and Slaton Teague; sister, Thelma Shouse; and family friends, Harry (Lisa) Neal, Joseph Neal, and Katie Rose Neal. A memorial service will be held to celebrate Jim’s life on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at 12:00 noon in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church in Greenville, with Rev. John Galyen officiating, assisted by Rev. Harry Neal. Visitation for the public will be held from 10:00AM until the memorial service begins. Tucker Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.tuckerfuneralhomes.com.