Joe Fred Watson was born January 25th, 1940 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of six children, born to Annalee Williams and Fred Douglas Watson. Joe was raised by his sister, Ruby, and her husband, Clarence "Snook" Coulter after the untimely death of his mother when he was only 12.

When Joe was 14, he set off on a great adventure traveling to Portland, Oregon, accompanied by an older friend, hopping freight trains and hitchhiking, and came to live with his sister, Lucille, and her family.

He attended Jefferson High School where he excelled in sports, playing alongside good friends and teammates, Terry Baker (Heisman trophy winner/LA Rams) and Mel Renfro (Dallas Cowboys, his favorite team!) He graduated in 1959 and worked at Braley & Graham Buick. In early 1961, his first daughter, Marie, was born.

Joe Fred enlisted in the Air Force in November of 1961 and proudly served as a helicopter mechanic as crew chief. Before departing the states, headed to Germany where he began his military career of 22 years (including two tours in Vietnam), he married Azealine Mullen and together they had three daughters, Yolanda "Rena" (1962), followed by Teresa (1965), and JoSonja "Sonie" (1971).

After retiring from the Air Force in November of 1983, Joe once again came home to Portland. It was not long after when he embarked on the next chapter of his life, when he and his children's mother parted ways. Just out of the military, and without missing a beat, Joe started on his next career as a premier car salesman at Coliseum Ford where he dressed 'sharp', shared his love and extensive knowledge of cars, and was known for his honesty and integrity, qualities he valued above all others! Joe was devoted to the owner (friend and mentor), Bill Bellasario, and remained his most loyal employee for more than 20 years.

Two years after retiring from the Air Force, in November of 1985, he met Jeannie Sasse during one of the most memorable car sales of his very successful career. Joe Fred was always known for his welcoming kindness and magnetic charm, making friends wherever he went. So as he spent the day with the mother and daughter pair, and during the lengthy transaction, a bond was formed; he had found his soulmate.

After a four year courtship, Joe married Jeannie Sasse on June 3, 1989, and built a fulfilling life going on to raise the last three of his seven children; Jonathan (1980), Jennifer (1982), and Jade (2000), as well as a menagerie of "fur-children" over the years. Joe was most fondly referred to as "Papa". It suited him so well as his unconditional love enveloped many young people throughout his life. Everyone wished they had a "Papa" like Joe.

In recent years, Joe came to battle some serious health issues with his never faltering courage, as always facing life with a positive attitude and armed with that dazzling smile which was rare NOT to see anytime you saw HIM!

He will be forever missed by his family and friends.

Joe Fred is survived by his wife of 34 years,  Jeannie Watson; his mother-in-law, Mary McNamara; and sister-in-law, SueAnne Boettcher of Portland, Oregon; his brother-in-law, Danny Hintz; and sister-in-law, Mary Hintz of Friendswood, Texas; his children, Marie Shambry, Yolanda Rena Watson, and Teresa D. Watson of Portland, Oregon; JoSonja Watson-Threlfall and her husband Jason Threlfall of Kent, Washington; and Jonathan Sasse, Jennifer Sasse, and Jade Watson also of Portland Oregon. He also leaves to cherish his memories and carry on his legacy ten grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren, and one great great grandson, plus an abundance of nieces, nephews, extended family, and lifelong friends.

Joe Fred was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Lucille, Bertie B., Bernice, and Ruby; his brother J.D., and brother-in-law, "Snook"; his granddaughter, Jameia; and great grandson, Nhi'jhan.

Making friends always came easy to Joe Fred offering words of wisdom, encouragement, and lots of laughs along the way. He was an incredible role model and touched many lives; some for a moment, others for a lifetime.

A visitation is planned for Joe Fred on Weds., November 2nd from 3:00 to 6:00 PM at the Hustad Funeral Home at 7232 N Richmond Avenue, Portland, OR 97203.

A celebration of life service will be held the following day on Thursday, November 3rd at 11:00 AM at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in the Family Life Center at 8501 N Chautauqua Blvd,. Portland, OR 97217, followed by a graveside service with military honors at 2:15 PM at the Willamette National Cemetery at 11800 SE Mt Scott Blvd, Portland, OR 97086

People wishing to honor Joe Fred's legacy, may make donations to the American Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/?form=FUNQCSERKQD

or to the Sickle Cell Foundation: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/sickle-cell-disease-association-of-america-inc/donate-today-to-fight-for-a-cure

Say not in grief 'he is no more' but in thankfulness that he WAS!