Marie-Louise "Mal" Watson

Marie-Louise "Mal" Watson, a retired Kent County educator who was a fixture on community boards, died Monday, November 23, at her home in Chestertown. She was 95. Mal was born and raised in Chicago, the daughter of Marcus D. Richards, who worked for the Chicago Casket Co. (which he called underground novelties), and Helen Field Gillette Richards, the owner/operator of a knitting shop in Winnetka, IL. Mal’s two sisters, Fidelia and Marcia, pre-deceased her. She graduated from North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka, Ill., in 1937 and earned a bachelor's degree in child development from Smith College in 1941. She then returned to North Shore Country Day School, where she taught kindergarten and athletics. In 1942, she married Gilbert L. Watson II. After a brief time living in Winnetka, Mal and Gillie moved to Chestertown where he managed his parents’ dairy farm at Comegys Bight until he founded, operated and edited The Chester River Press in Chestertown. Mrs. Watson taught four years at Rock Hall Elementary School in the 1960s and was the first teacher of the first grade when Kent School opened its doors in 1968. She retired from the school in 1980 to care for her ailing husband, who died the next year. Mal cared deeply about all her students, delighting in encountering them on the streets of Chestertown. When one of them stopped her to say “Hi, Mrs. Watson,” she would respond with a “Who are you? I can’t see faces any more,” Invariably she had some wonderful story of that student’s time in her classroom to share with them. Although many of them are well into adulthood, Mal referred to them as her babies until her death. Mrs. Watson had been president and treasurer of Kent & Queen Anne's Hospital Auxiliary, Kent Conservation and the Kent County Cancer Society. She also was a volunteer for Kent Hospice and headed the Altar Guild at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, where she was a communicant. Mal loved golf, tennis, and bridge. She was also an accomplished knitter. But the activity she loved most in her golden years was riding her big lawn tractor. Giving up control of her tractor was probably more difficult than turning in her car keys as her eyes failed. To the very end, Mal was the heartbeat of her large extended family, welcoming all of her children, grandchildren and great-grands to the Bight. She hosted regular end-of-the-day cocktails for her local family, their friends and her friends, enjoying the company of anyone with the time to stop by. Mal was pre-deceased by her beloved husband Gillie and her only son, Gilbert L Watson III, (wife Ellen Uzelac). She is survived by four daughters, Helen Collison (Terry, deceased) of Chadds Ford, PA, Marcia Goldberg (Nelson) of Cockeysville, Durrie Chisholm (Manson) and Molly Mears (Roy) both of Chestertown; 13 grandchildren, including Molly Watson (John Burkett), Loren Watson (Nick Morse), Blaine Collison (Stacy Cook), Chandler Collison (Kim), Gretchen Edwards (Jeremy), Audrey and Grady Goldberg, Duncan Welsh (Emily), Allie and Michael Welsh, Christian Mears (Laura), Dustin Mears (Heather Holiday) and Gilbert Mears (Andrea Murta); and 17 great-grandchildren. Mal was fortunate to have a group of caregivers in her last years whose presence enabled her to remain in her residence. These women were kind, attentive, and loving, giving Mal many hours of company, humor and patience. There will be a memorial service to celebrate Mal’s life at 2:00 pm on February 13 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Chestertown. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mal’s name can be made to the Kent County Humane Society or a charity of your choice.

Marie-Louise "Mal" Watson

February 12, 1920 - November 23, 2015