Harrison Leonard

Harrison married Laura A. Keene on 18 Nov 1900 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Laura was born in Oct 1878 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; died about 1908 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Stella married David Lawson Watson about 1921 in , , Tennessee, . David was born on 23 Feb 1899 in , Carter County, Tennessee, ; died in Dec 1977 in , Carter County, Tennessee, . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Ethel married John Patton Houston on 4 Dec 1924 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. John (son of Mack C. Houston and Margaret Alice Harvey) was born on 10 Feb 1894 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; died on 10 Jun 1960 in Washington County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Roselawn Memorial Park, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

JOHNSON CITY - Harry B. Watson, age 102, of Johnson City, Tennessee, walked into the arms of Jesus on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at James H. Quillen VA Medical Center.

A lifelong resident of Carter County, Harry was born February 8, 1920, to the late David Lawson Watson and Stella Mae Leonard Watson. He enlisted in the Army to serve in the Western Front as a PFC in World War II. It was intended that he land on Normandy Beach, but instead he landed on Utah Beach the day after D-Day where he was captured by German soldiers. He was listed MIA for six months. Harry was held as a POW in Memmingen, Germany for 11 months and 21 days, until General George S. Patton liberated the camp where he was held prisoner. Harry always said he never regretted his service to this great country, and he would often remind others that freedom isn’t free.

Shortly after returning to the United States, Harry married the love of his life, Elsie Elaine Freeman Watson on June 27, 1945. They resided in the Pinecrest/Milligan area and had three daughters, Karen, Linda, and Ellen. He worked at North American Rayon Corp for over 50 years, only missing one shift due to the birth of his daughter.

He was a longtime member of Tacoma Church of God. He was a member of American Ex-Prisoners of War- East Tennessee Chapter and Rolling Thunder Tennessee Chapter 4.

In addition to his parents, Harry was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Elsie, in 2007; granddaughter, Kimberly Dawn Quillin; brother, Robert Watson; sister, Margaret Slayton; and sons-in-law, Charles Smith and Ted Welch.

Those left to cherish his memory include his daughters, Karen Elaine Lane (and Claude) of Kingsport, Linda C Lyons (and Shelby) of Johnson City, and Ellen Fay Welch of Elizabethton; granddaughters, Karen Ervin (and Thomas) of Limestone, Kristen Babb (and Mark) of Johnson City, and Heather Hughes of Johnson City; great-grandchildren, Brittney and Lindsey Babb of Johnson City, Jonathan Ervin (and Mahala) of Limestone, William Ervin (and Sara) of Limestone, and Tristan Quillin of Jackson, TN; and great-great-grandsons, Archer Keith Crawford Bruner and Baby Boy Ervin to be born in February of 2023; as well as a host of additional family and friends.

Harry’s family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 pm on Thursday, January 5, 2023, at Morris-Baker Funeral Home. A funeral will immediately follow, beginning at 7:00 pm, under the direction of Rick Ballard. Those attending are respectfully asked to please wear a face covering. The service will be available to view on the Morris-Baker website, under Harry’s obituary page. A committal service will commence the following day, at 11:00 am on Friday, January 6, at Happy Valley Memorial Park, in the Mausoleum Chapel. Those wishing to attend are asked to please meet at the cemetery by 10:50 am. Military honors will be rendered by the DAV Honor Guard of Bluff City Chapter 39, Tennessee Army National Guard, and Rolling Thunder Tennessee Chapter 4.

Active pallbearers will include Jonathan Ervin, Tristan Quillin, William Ervin, Lindsey Babb, Barry Redmond, and Mark Babb. Honorary pallbearers include Trevin Quillin, Mike Freeman, Rolling Thunder Tennessee Chapter 4, and American Ex-Prisoners of War- East Tennessee Chapter.

Harry married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
PINEY FLATS - The Reverend Mack A. Houston, Sr., 96, Piney Flats, passed away Saturday, August 21, 2021, at his residence.

He was a Carter County native and the son of the late John and Ethel Leonard Houston. Rev. Houston attended Cave Springs Elementary School, Happy Valley High School, East Tennessee State University, Milligan College, and completed studies for the ministry at Duke University and Emory University in Atlanta, GA.

He loved movies and started attending movies in 1935 and viewed hundreds of films, especially B-Westerns. He owned a large collection of DVD’s, mostly westerns but also classics. He organized film clubs in Elizabethton, Johnson City, Wytheville, VA and lastly in Piney Flats, which began in 1992 until 2017. He shared his love of westerns with hundreds of fans and friends. He attended many Western Film Festivals from 1972 through 2010, where he met over 400 movie stars, directors, stuntmen, and other people in the film industry.

He was a World War II veteran, having served with the 35th Infantry, 25th Division, 1943-1945. He was wounded on Luzon Island in the Philippines on February 5, 1945. He earned 14 medals during his military career. He served as Chaplain of the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and was active in veterans affairs following his discharge.

His greatest love was the ministry. Following his military service, he became employed by Mountain Home VA. After eight years at the VA, he received his call to the ministry in 1957. He retired from the active ministry in the Holston Conference United Methodist Church in 1988 but continued to serve the Lord with occasional preaching and serving as interim pastor on two occasions. His love and passion were preaching. He was noted for his intense visitation, especially to the hospitals and nursing homes. He led devotions at a Johnson City nursing home for 11 years. He preached to United Methodist congregations but also as guest minister in Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and other denominations. His goal was to be a community pastor, and to offer service to all people. He served 13 churches during his ministry, mostly in the Johnson City district. He was ordained by Bishop Ellis Finger in 1968 at his home church, Taylor Memorial united Methodist Church on S. Roan St. He loved the United Methodist Church.

In addition to his parents, Rev. Houston is preceded in death by: his son, Mack “Andy” Houston, in March, and his first wife, Joyce Clark Houston, in 1989.

Survivors include: his wife of 30 years, Helen Whitaker Houston; daughter, Sabra Houston; several cousins, nieces and nephews; and many church friends.