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In memory of

Roger Carl Watson

Newberry Springs, CA

January 28, 1943 - September 4, 2019

Jan 28, 1943 - Sep 4, 2019

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After a hard-fought battle with an aggressive cancer, Roger Carl Watson of Newberry Springs, CA. passed away on September 4, 2019, while in Hospice Care, at his daughter’s home in Anderson, Indiana at the age of 76. He leaves behind his wife Kristine Watson; and two daughters, Susan Weston of Anderson, IN and Krista Cacace Kemp, of Austin CO, who he raised as his own. He was the father of his son Robert from a previous marriage, who preceded him in death.
Roger was born on January 28, 1943 in Long Beach, CA to father Carl August Watson and mother, Nila Vincent Watson who preceded him in death. He and his brother Wayne were raised in Long Beach and both went into the military upon graduation from high school. Rogers military of choice was the US Air Force where he proudly served his country from September 25, 1960 until he received his Honorable Discharge on September 27, 1964. While he was stationed in Japan, her served as a Jet Aircraft Mechanic and Crew Chief on the flight line.
Upon completion of his military service, he dabbled in a variety of jobs ranging from commercial demolition to running parts for oil fields around Bakersfield. In 1969 Roger went through the Police Academy and became an officer with the Long Beach Police Department where he served for the following seven years, while doing construction on the side. He found Newberry Springs in 1976 and elected to go into the safer of the two occupations and make construction work his full-time trade. He became a licensed general contractor in 1980.
As a licensed general and concrete contractor, he was kept busy building in Newberry Springs, Barstow, the outlying areas, throughout Southern California and the Caribbean. As owner of Watson Construction, his major projects in the area include: American Legion building expansion, The Barn rebuild, Elementis Chemical Company addition, bleachers and snack shed at the community park, Lake Jodi boat ramps, docks and shoreline reinforcment, several custom homes, Harvey House restoration projects, multiple building additions and walkways at Calico Ghost Town, seismic retrofits in Barstow and Calico to name a few. He was also hired by Frank Sinatra to perform construction work on his homes in Palm Springs and Beverly Hills. At times he worked alongside his brother on construction projects in Puerto Rico and Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands. Roger prided himself on the many interesting challenges of near impossible jobs that he took on. His very fitting moto was . . . “They said it couldn’t be done, so I did it anyway!”
Roger met his wife Kristine in 1978 and together they both became very active in the community. Roger joined the American Legion Post 751 of Newberry Springs in 1978 where he held numerous offices including Commander from 2010-12 and again from 2017-18. As a Legion member, he poured his heart and soul into keeping the post active within the community, building membership as well as the preservation and expansion of the building itself. He helped form the Newberry Springs Business Association, where he served as president and he was a very active board member of the Newberry Springs Youth Committee. Wherever there was a community gathering, you could always find Roger there, whether it be officiating an event or cooking a deep pit or open spitted pig, he found a way to feed the masses. As owner of Lakeside Catering, both he and Kris catered all the Water Ski Tournaments in Newberry Springs from 1985-2006.
Roger was a driven professional with an unmatched work ethic and loved deep sea fishing and four-wheeling. He would often organize fishing trips off the coast of California, but his favorite fishing spot was Cabo San Lucas. As a member of the Mojave Road Toads Off-Road Club, he led many of the twice annually Mojave Road trips with the group. He loved and respected the desert with all its wonders and was affectionately referred to as “Papa Toad” by all members of the group. When he wasn’t dropping a hook in the ocean, hopping around the desert in his suburban or working on a construction project, you would often find him at the many festivals held at Calico Ghost town, where he was “Grubstake”, a name conferred on him by Death Valley Helen and an official costumed character. Roger took a great deal of pride in that he dedicated a portion of his free time in the promotion of Calico Ghost Town, it’s festivals and his preservation work of the town itself. He was honored to be installed into the Calico Characters Hall of Fame along with his wife Kris and daughter Krista in 1984. His love of costuming also took him to many Gun Shows, themed conventions, and the Death Valley 49er’s Encampment where he was a lifetime member and costume judge.
Roger is survived by his wife Kristine, two daughters Susan & Krista, Six grandchildren: Maegan Riggins, Tyler Weston, Zachary Weston, Katherine Weston, Sierra Cacace and Gabriel Cacace. He had been blessed with five great-grandchildren: Callie, Abbigail, Parker, Lincoln and Pearl. He was proud of his grandchildren’s accomplishments and the moniker of “PAPA”. He is also survived by his older brother Wayne Finley Watson, his wife Ana Maria Watson and their two sons Ricky Watson and Carlos Watson. Roger enjoyed being an uncle and a great uncle to his two nephews and their children.
Memorial Services for Roger will be held on Monday, October 28th in three separate ceremonies. Formal Memorial: 2:00 -Newberry Springs Community Center – 30884 Newberry Rd.; Post Everlasting: 3:00 – American Legion Post 751 – 30916 Newberry Rd.; then at 5:30pm his ashes will be interred at Calico Ghost Town, Boot Hill Cemetery at an official Character Send-Off, where attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite western attire.
The family would like to thank Bridges Hospice of San Bernardino County and Compassus Hospice in Anderson Indiana for their constant, attentive treatment and loving care during his final months. In leu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Roger Watson Memorial Building Fund in care of the American Legion Post 751, PO Box 247, Newberry Springs, CA 92365.

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In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Roger Watson Memorial Building Fund.

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