WATTS, Mary Louise

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona - 05/21/2004 Mary Louise Watts died May 17, 2004. She was born in Naco, Dec. 8, 1909 and grew up in Douglas. Mary Lou graduated from Arizona State University with her degree in Elementary Education and taught school for 27 years retiring from Monte Vista School in Phoenix. She married Irvine "Boots" Watts in Tucson Dec. 24, 1932. They moved to Chandler where Boots was the track and football coach for Chandler High School until joining the Navy in 1943. Mary Lou was the founder and first president of the Jr. Women's Club of Chandler. She organized the Chandler Girl Scouts and was a troop leader for several years. During World War II, Mary Lou was the first woman hired by Pecos Mills in Chandler, acting as secretary to Cliff Hearn. Beginning in 1949, the family spent summers at their cabin in Lakeside. Boots and Mary Lou celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary prior to Boots' death in 1991. In recent years, Mary Lou volunteered many hours for Scottsdale Healthcare Auxiliary and Mohave Middle School Library. Mary Lou is survived by her daughters Sandi Viles (children Greg Viles and Tammi Viles); Mary Boots Hunt (Cork) and daughters Mary Louise Hunt (Tom) and Kathy Hunt; great grandchildren Hallie Jean Hunt and Jack Hunt; nephew Mercer Johnson; nieces Terrell Tyra (Joe Ben); Deed Kalota (Chet), Kathy Ball (Bob), Vicki MacClyment (Alan) and family friends Roxana Harvey and Dianne Smith. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Arizona State University Alumni Association to the Irvine B. Watts Scholarship Fund or to Hospice of Arizona. Services have been held. Messinger Indian School Mortuary handled the arrangements.