Christy Ann Watenpaugh Obituary

Click on the either of the links below a few minutes before 11:00 am on July 1st to view the live-streamed service:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gracelutheranarlington/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grace.lutheran

Obituary from The Sheridan Press: https://www.thesheridanpress.com/obituaries/christy-ann-watenpaugh/article_2a3829da-ef51-11ed-9796-2b2d3534b33f.html

An “auto-obituary” written for Christy in her style by her family
based on her many Christmas letters

HAPPY SPRING TO EVERYBODY!  I HOPE EVERYBODYS DOING WELL.  WHAT A LIFE IVE HAD, BUT IM DONE ON EARTH.  MY BODY GAVE OUT ON MY ANNIVERSARY WITH PHIL, APRIL 22ND 2023.  PEACEFUL AND SURROUNDED BY LOVING FAMILY AND FRIENDS AFTER BEING ON HOSPICE FOR AWHILE.  GENTLE HUGS AND KISSES TO THE END. 

I WAS BORN IN SHERIDAN IN 1935, SO I JUST MADE IT TO 88.  I WAS THE ONLY CHILD OF REV. DONALD G AND WINNIFRED SMITH.  SHE WAS TOLD SHE COULDNT HAVE CHILDREN!  MY FATHER BAPTIZED ME AT ST. PETERS WHERE HE WAS RECTOR.  MY SECOND MIDDLE NAME WAS MARSHALLSAY.  AN OLD FAMILY NAME. 

WYOMING IS A WONDERFUL STATE AND IM PROUD TO BE FROM THERE!  I HAD A FUN CHILDHOOD IN SHERIDAN WITH CLOSE FRIENDS AND ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT PETS.  DUCKS, CHICKENS, MICE, KITTIES, DOGS, SNAKES, HORSES, YOU NAME IT.  WE KEPT THE CHICKENS OVERNIGHT IN A BATHTUB WITH A BOARD ON IT SO THE ROOSTERS COULDNT RAISE THEIR HEADS TO CROW IN THE MORNING. 

MY FATHER “POPS” WAS AN ARMY CHAPLAIN IN EUROPE IN WWII, SO MOTHER AND I MOVED AROUND WHILE HE WAS IN THE SERVICE.  CALIFORNIA, VIRGINIA, WHEREVER.  I WAS AN ARMY BRAT.  WE MOVED TO MINNESOTA AFTER THE WAR FOR MY FATHER TO SERVE AS RECTOR OF ST STEPHENS EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN PAYNESVILLE.  I LOVED LAKE KORONIS WHERE MY GODPARENTS LIVED.  I COULD TAKE THE MOTORBOAT OUT AND LOOK FOR FISH AND TURTLES AND BUGS IN THE LILYPADS AND CATTAILS. 

THEN WE MOVED TO DALLAS FOR MY FATHER TO SERVE AS ASSOCIATE RECTOR AT THE BRAND NEW EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE INCARNATION.  I DIDNT LIKE TEXAS BACK THEN, SO I WENT BACK TO WYOMING ONE SUMMER TO WORK AT EATONS RANCH.  I WAS KITCHEN HELP, BUT ONE MORNING I TOOK THE LEAD MARE UP IN THE MOUNTAINS TO ROUND UP ALL THE HORSES FOR THE DUDES BEFORE THE WRANGLERS GOT UP.  THEY COULDN’T BELIEVE IT! 

I GRADUATED FROM HIGHLAND PARK HIGH SCHOOL IN DALLAS IN 1953.  LIKE MY FATHER, I WASNT THE BEST STUDENT.  HE SAID OUR REPORT CARDS WERE LIKE THE “SEVEN CS.”  I MET MY FUTURE HUSBAND PHIL IN DALLAS, BUT HE WAS FROM SHERIDAN LIKE ME!  ONE OF OUR FIRST DATES WAS THE TEXAS STATE FAIR.  MY FATHER MARRIED US AT THE INCARNATION IN 1954, ONE OF THE VERY FIRST WEDDINGS THERE.  

PHIL HAD ALREADY ENTERED THE AIR FORCE TO FLY F86 SABRE JETS.  SO WE MOVED TO WHERE HE WAS STATIONED BUT SOMETIMES HIS TRAINING WAS STILL FAR AWAY.  I MADE EXTRA MONEY WASHING CLOTHES FOR OTHER FAMILIES IN OUR LARSON BASE TRAILER PARK AT MOSES LAKE WASHINGTON. 

PHIL LOST FRIENDS IN HIS SQUADRON TO ENGINE EXPLOSIONS.  HE WANTED KIDS RIGHT AWAY, SO WE HAD DAVID FOUR DAYS AFTER MY 20TH BIRTHDAY IN 1955 AT MOSES LAKE.  THEY HAD SENT PHIL TO YUMA ARIZONA FOR TRAINING.  HE WAS DRINKING MINT JULEPS BY THE POOL THERE WHEN DAVID WAS BORN!  BUT HE FLEW UP TO SEE DAVID AND I SOON. 

THE KOREAN WAR ENDED, SO PHIL WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE AIR FORCE.  HE GOT A JOB WITH VOUGHT AIRCRAFT IN GRAND PRAIRIE TEXAS.  I WASNT READY FOR KIDS WHEN DAVID CAME, AND THEN WE HAD DONALD IN 1959.  TIMES WERE DIFFERENT BACK THEN, AND EVEN THOUGH I LOVED THEM, I WAS ALSO SOMETIMES HARD ON THEM WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE.  I AM SORRY ABOUT THAT. 

PHIL WAS STILL FLYING BACK THEN AND WE TOOK TRIPS IN A BONANZA TO WYOMING.  THE CONTROLS COULD BE MOVED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS.  ONE TIME HE MOVED THEM IN FRONT OF ME FOR ME TO FLY BUT THEN HE COULDNT GET IT BACK TO HIS SIDE!  ANOTHER TIME WE LOST OIL PRESSURE AND HAD TO FIND A HOLE IN THE CLOUDS TO LAND IN ARDMORE OKLAHOMA. 

WE BOUGHT THE HOUSE ON SALEM IN IRVING AND THEN BUILT ONTO IT.  WE HAD SHINE THE DOG AND LOTS OF KITTIES AND FINCHES AND FISH.  SHINE WAS A BASENJI.  HE GOT ALONG WITH THE CATS.  I SHOWED HIM AT DOG SHOWS.  ONE TIME MY CAT SUKI YAMA ATE ALMOST ALL OF THE FINCHES.  ALL THAT WAS LEFT WERE BEAKS AND FEET. 

ONE TIME PHIL ALMOST DIED FROM A BLEEDING STOMACH ULCER.  I FOUND HIM LYING ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR SAYING HE WAS ALL RIGHT.  HE WASNT ALL RIGHT!  I GOT HIM INTO THE CAR AND TOOK HIM TO THE HOSPITAL.  THEY SAID HIS HEMOGLOBIN WAS 3 AND HE WAS ALMOST GONE.  BUT THEY OPERATED ON HIM AND GAVE HIM BLOOD AND HE MADE IT! 

WE WERE CHARTER MEMBERS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER IN IRVING.  PHIL AND I SANG IN THE CHOIR AND THE BOYS WERE ACOLYTES AND WE RAN THE CHURCH POOL.  I ORGANIZED SWIMMING CLASSES EVERY SUMMER.  WE TAUGHT A LOT OF KIDS TO SWIM!  WE MADE LIFELONG FRIENDS AT THE REDEEMER. 

IN 1966 PHIL BOUGHT A FIRE ENGINE RED PLYMOUTH SATELLITE CONVERTIBLE OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR.  IT HAD A FOUR BARREL 383 AND REALLY GOT UP AND WENT.  ONE TIME ON A TRIP TO CALIFORNIA PHIL FELL ASLEEP WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A LONG HIGHWAY.  HE WOKE UP AND LOOKED AT THE MAP AND COULDNT FIGURE OUT HOW WE GOT AS FAR AS WE DID. 

FAMILY FRIENDS HAD A HOUSE NEAR THE BEACH AT GALVESTON THAT WE RENTED.  THATS WHEN WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE TEXAS COAST.  I LIKED LOOKING FOR SHELLS AND FEEDING SEAGULLS.  I LOOKED YOUNG FOR MY AGE BACK THEN.  PEOPLE WOULD MISTAKE ME FOR DAVID AND DONALDS BIG SISTER INSTEAD OF PHILS WIFE. 

WE GOT A NORFOLK PINE THAT I GREW INDOORS AND NAMED ETHYL.  IT GREW SO TALL IT TOUCHED THE CEILING!  ETHYL BECAME OUR CHRISTMAS TREE.  IN 1972 PHIL AND THE KIDS SURPRISED ME WITH A GIANT BOX FOR CHRISTMAS.  IT TURNED OUT TO BE BOX AFTER SMALLER BOX BUT INSIDE THE SMALLEST LITTLE BOX WAS A RECEIPT FOR A WINNEBAGO! 

I DROVE THAT WINNEBAGO ALL OVER THE PLACE FROM WYOMING TO MINNESOTA TO VIRGINIA TO FLORIDA TO CANOE AND CAMPING TRIPS TO PADRE ISLAND.  I ALSO HAULED BAND AND CHURCH KIDS ALL OVER THE PLACE.  ONE TIME WE HAD OVER 40 CHURCH KIDS IN IT!  ANOTHER TIME SCOTT LIT FLASH PAPER IN IT WHILE WE WERE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND PHIL YELLED “WHAT THE HELL’S GOING ON HERE!?!”  AT PADRE WE WOULD PARK IT ON THE BEACH AND INVITE ALL FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO COME.  IT WAS SUCH FUN!  THIS CONTINUED EVEN AFTER WE SOLD THE WINNEBAGO AND GOT A ROADTREK. 

AFTER DAVID AND DONALD MOVED OUT, I STARTED ART CLASSES AT NORTH LAKE COLLEGE.  I MADE GREAT FRIENDS THERE AND LEARNED TO PAINT.  I KEPT PAINTING UNTIL THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF MY LIFE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE MY PAINTINGS.  SOME OF MY BEST PAINTINGS WERE VAN GOGH REPRODUCTIONS I DID FOR DAVID AND KAY.  KENDRA FOLLOWED IN MY FOOTSTEPS AND SHE NOW PAINTS CLOTHES.

I LOVED TO TRAVEL MORE THAN PHIL.  WE WENT ON CRUISES WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND WE VISITED DON AND SHANNON WHEN THEY LIVED IN DENMARK.  WE ALSO VISITED THE ISLE OF LEWIS WHERE MY FATHERS FATHER WAS FROM.  I TOURED THE HOLY LAND WITH A CHURCH GROUP.  I LOVED HAWAII AND IM SO HAPPY FIONA AND RYAN LIVE THERE NOW.  ONE TIME FRIENDS AND I WENT TO SWEDEN TO SURPRISE OUR SWEDISH FRIEND IRMA WHILE SHE WAS VISITING HOME.  SHE COULDNT BELIEVE WE WERE THERE! 

I DIDNT LIKE LIVING IN IRVING ANY MORE AND MOVED TO THE HOUSE ON DOOLEY IN GRAPEVINE.  PHIL BEGRUDGINGLY FOLLOWED.  I LOVED THAT HOUSE!  IT WAS RIGHT NEAR THE LAKE AND NEXT TO A WOODED AREA WITH LOTS OF CRITTERS LIKE RACCOONS.  PHIL AND I HAD OUR 60TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY THERE AND WE HAD MANY OTHER FAMILY GATHERINGS.  PHIL PASSED AWAY THERE ON HOSPICE IN 2012.  AFTER THAT, GWEN LIVED WITH ME THERE FOR A WHILE WITH HER FRIEND KATRINA.  LATER LOGAN LIVED WITH ME THERE WHEN HE AND TAYLOR WERE FIRST DATING.  WE HAD LOTS OF FUN PARTIES WITH HIS FRIENDS.  ONE TIME LOGAN HELPED ME PAINT THE KITCHEN.  I REALLY ENJOYED LIVING WITH MY GRANDKIDS!  HOW MANY OLDER PEOPLE GET TO DO THAT? 

IN 2018 I GOT REAL SICK FROM MY CHRONIC CONSTIPATION AND ENDED UP ON HOSPICE AFTER TWO WEEKS IN GRAPEVINE HOSPITAL.  NEVER GO TO THAT HOSPITAL!  PEOPLE ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED, AND I TOLD THEM I WANTED TO LIVE.  SO I DID!  I REGAINED MY STRENGTH IN A REHAB HOSPITAL THEN MOVED TO A FACILITY CALLED THE LANDING.  KAYS FATHER OTIS MOVED IN RIGHT DOWN THE HALL.  OREO LIVED WITH ME THERE.  HE WAS PHIL’S FAVORITE CAT.  DENTON WOULD PICK ME UP ON HIS WAY TO JENNA’S UTA PERFORMANCES, SO THAT WAS REALLY NICE.  I WASNT NEARLY WELL ENOUGH TO TRAVEL TO NEW ENGLAND FOR KENDRA AND COLES WEDDING, BUT I GOT TO BE THE FLOWER GIRL FOR JENNA AND RICHIES WEDDING.  I WORE A DRESS PAINTED BY KENDRA. 

IN 2019 I MOVED TO ALEDO TO LIVE WITH DON AND SHANNON.  I HAD MY OWN APARTMENT ATTACHED TO THEIR HOUSE.  WE ALL DIDNT ALWAYS GET ALONG BUT MOSTLY IT WORKED OUT GREAT.  I JOINED SHANNONS TOASTMASTERS CLUB AND GAVE SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS.  THEN JENNA AND RICHIE MOVED IN!  WE HAD A GARDEN AND I COOKED MEALS OFF AND ON.  OLD FAMILY FAVORITES LIKE ARIZONA BEANS, SPANISH RICE, HAMBURGER PIE, AND K-BOBS.  WE ALL HAD SUCH FUN AND WE SURVIVED THE BIG TEXAS FREEZE AND THE PANDEMIC TOGETHER.  WE WATCHED LOGAN AND TAYLORS AND GWEN AND SHAYS WEDDINGS! 

CARING FOR ME BECAME TOO MUCH FOR DON AND SHANNON, SO I MOVED TO MIRABELLA IN FORT WORTH.  IT WAS NICE THERE BUT I MOSTLY JUST STAYED IN MY APARTMENT AND WATCHED OLD MOVIES.  I LOVE ALL THOSE OLD MOVIES!  WHEN I WENT SOMEWHERE I STARTED SEEING DINOSAURS OFF AND ON.  THEY WERE LOOKING AROUND FROM BEHIND TREES OR OTHER PLACES.  MY LAST KITTIE WAS REGGIE.  A LOVIE DOVIE PURRBOX! 

HEAVEN IS JUST WONDERFUL!  THERE ARE PLANTS AND CRITTERS EVERYWHERE JUST LIKE I IMAGINED.  ALL MY KITTIES AND OTHER PETS FROM THE PAST ARE HERE!  PHIL IS ALWAYS VERY SWEET TO ME.  HE SPENDS HIS EXTRA TIME DRINKING COORS LIGHT AND TALKING WITH MY FATHER, OLD FRIENDS, AND RUSH LIMBAUGH.  MY MOTHER IS WELL AND HAPPY PLAYING BOARD GAMES, WRITING POETRY, AND PLAYING PIANO.  NO ONE HAS ANY AILMENTS! 

I CAN PAINT WHATEVER I WANT WITH JUST MY HAND AND IT BECOMES REAL.  I PAINTED AN INDIAN PAINTBRUSH THE OTHER DAY IN ALEDO.  THE INDIAN PAINTBRUSH IS WYOMINGS STATE FLOWER! 

ANYWAY BACK TO MY CRITTERS.  I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY CELEBRATING MY LIFE AS MUCH AS I ENJOYED IT! 

LOVE AND HUGS ALWAYS!