Willajean Watson

Willajean (Mansfield) Watson, 92, of Ashland, passed away on October 27, 2018. Born December 30, 1925, in Lincoln, to Ethel Ferne and George Earl Mansfield. She graduated from Ashland High School in 1943. She attended Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1943 and earned a teaching certificate and taught at District #82 of Cass County  for 3 years.

In 1946 she moved to California where she worked for various companies as a bookkeeper. In 1949 she returned to Nebraska where she worked at General Motors Corporation in Lincoln until 1952. She then worked at Laune Chevrolet Co. in Ashland until she married Lyndall Watson on December 14, 1952 in the Ashland Methodist Church. She spent the next years as a loving wife and mother. In 1975 she worked as a part-time bookkeeper at Jerry’s Tire Service in Ashland where she remained until 1998. She enjoyed gardening, square dancing, Saddle Club, Grange, avid Husker fan,  and was a Methodist Church treasurer.

She is survived by her husband Lyndall, sons Richard (Cathy) Watson, Jack (Carolyn) Watson, Bryan (Valerie) Watson, grandchildren Laurie (Tony) Robertson, Lindsey Watson, Aaron (Audrey) Watson, Adam Watson, and step-grandchild Michael Jensen, great grandchildren Mallory and Nolan Robertson, and step-great grandchild Jareth Jensen, brother Sam (Jean) Mansfield, sister-in-law Elizabeth Mansfield and nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, brother George “Jeff” Mansfield.

Graveside services were held at the Ashland Cemetery (30th and Silver Street) on Friday, November 16th at 2:00 p.m. Celebration of life followed at the Ashland United Methodist Church, 1442 Adams.