Theris Watts

Theris Barlow Watts

1931 ~ 2015

Theris Barlow Watts, 84, passed away Thursday, August 6, 2015.

He was born in South Weber, Utah to Lawrence Millard and Rosetta May Barlow Watts. He was the youngest child of 15 children. He grew up in South Weber and graduated from Davis High in 1949.

Theris married four times in his life. Three of these ended in divorce and at the death of his last wife, he became a widower. He was the father to 14 children. There were nine boys and five girls.

He spent much of his life driving buses, cars, or long-hail trucks. He loved traveling and photography, enabling him to visit every state in the United States and many towns and cities within those states.

Theris sustained an industrial accident early in his life which over the years required him to endure seven back operations but with his resilience he was able to walk until the day he died.

Fishing and hunting were special times for him to teach and be with his kids. Many a trout, salmon, or steelhead was caught with dad close by.

His talent and passion though was landscaping and gardening. He was known as “The man who paints with flowers”. He created gardens and grounds of peace and beauty. He designed the park outside the HAFB Museum and along with his sons and grandsons spent many hours creating that wonderful place.

Theris loved airplanes, music, and dancing. He collected and assembled model airplanes, composed music, played the piano, guitar, and accordion and taught all types of dance.

He found joy in simple rides, blue skies, sunsets, homemade ice cream, fishing, flowers for his girls, fireworks, strawberries, raspberries, and watermelon, but above all he loved to plant flowers and go for rides with the devoted companionship of his dogs, Lady and Shadow, by his side.

Surviving are his children, Bruce Watts, Ray Hart (Kathy) and Joe Watts (Julie), all of Idaho Falls, ID; Jim Watts, Brigham City; Roy Watts (Wendy), Roy; Mark Watts (Trisha), Syracuse; Lisa Laaksonen (Martin) and Angela Guy (Tom), all of Clinton; Mike Hart, Las Vegas, NV; Annette Henman (Steve) and Louise Fullmer, all of Clearfield; and Doug Zanotto, Toms Brook, VA.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 14, 2015 at Lindquist’s Roy Mortuary, 3333 West 5600 South. The family will meet with friends Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. at the mortuary.

Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Road.