Annette L. Watson

June 1, 1940 - August 21, 2020

Annette Louise Watson Annette Louise (née Bibbins) Watson, 80, passed away peacefully at her home Friday, August 21, 2020 with her daughters at her side following a brief battle with cancer. Born and raised in Jackson, Michigan, she graduated from Jackson High School. She met her husband, Jim, in East Lansing, Michigan, and after marrying, they settled in Huntington Woods, Michigan, where they raised their three daughters. Annette was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak all these years. Annette earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Wayne State University, where she was a member of the David Mackenzie Honor Society. She was also inducted into the Lambda Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society of Nursing. She enjoyed a long and successful nursing career at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, where she specialized in the care of cardiovascular, surgical, and transplant patients, and ultimately was a nurse manager for many years until she retired from nursing in 2005. Indeed, her unit did pioneering work in the newly emerging animal tissue to human transplant technology. Annette was fully immersed in the lives and activities of her four grandchildren, her nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and nephews, attending their many athletic events, school activities and performances. She treasured their family gatherings at the Lake Huron cottage in Harrisville, Michigan, where she enjoyed water sports, kayaking and tubing, as well outdoor hikes and walks. She loved nature, birds and animals, as well as being outdoors, and she enjoyed spending her winters in Florida, where she maintained an active calendar and social life of dancing, bowling, playing cards, bike riding and swimming, right up to the end. Annette was a beautiful person, loved by all who knew her, as she radiated sunshine, warmth and love to all she encountered. No matter the problems she was dealing with, she always made room in her life for anyone who needed someone to lean on for comfort. She was the consummate empath, helping anyone in need, at any time. She was a rock and her infectious smile warmed any room she was in. She always put others ahead of herself, was a reliable friend, and showered her family and friends with love. She always ended a phone call with "I love you". She was predeceased by her parents, Frances and Jack Bibbins (Jackson, MI), her husband, James R. Watson, Jr., her niece, Lynndy Frankila, and her grandniece, Elizabeth Grace Watson. Annette is immediately survived by her loving daughters, Ms. Michelle Fales (Royal Oak, MI), Ms. Kelly Watson (Steve Freeman) (Hazel Park, MI), and Ms. Kristin Sacco (Troy, MI), her cherished grandchildren, Miss Megan Sacco, Miss Haley Sacco, Mr. Nicholas Sacco and Mr. Benjamin Sacco (all of Troy, MI); her siblings, brother Ron Bibbins (Becky) (Jackson, MI), her sister, Charlene Roberts (Jim) (Jackson, MI); her nieces and nephews, Ashley Roberts (Florida), Morggan Duffiney (Darren) (Howell, MI), Andy Roberts (Maggie) (Kalamazoo, MI), Kara Perkins (Lance), Gerald Watson (Sharron), Glenn M. Watson (Martha) (Pittsburgh, PA), Lori Kloc (Robert) (Freeland, MI), Jill Zwiernikowski (Rick) (Hastings, MI); and her grandnieces and nephews, Bryson and Nathan Roberts (Kalamazoo), Amy VanderWal (Will) (Holland, MI), Zachary Zwiernikowski (Alena) (Kentwood, MI), Mitchell Kloc, Rachel Kloc, and Spencer Kloc (Freeland, MI); and her great grandnephew Carter VanderWal (Holland, MI); and by her loving companion, Mr. John Murphy, of Jensen Beach, Florida. A visitation will be held Wednesday, August 26, at the Wm. Sullivan and Son Funeral Home, 705 W Eleven Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48067, from 3-7:00 pm, followed by a service there at 7:00 pm Wednesday. **Due to COVID-19 guidelines, please be advised that the funeral home is limited to 10 people in the visitation/service room at any given time. Also, masks are required to enter the building. The funeral will be webcast and the livestream will begin a few minutes prior to the funeral (https://www.sullivanfuneraldirectors.com/obituaries/Annette-Watson-2/#!/PhotosVideos). Memorial donations in Annette's name may be made to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org ) and the Gleaners Community Food Bank (www.gcfb.org ).