Marilyn Joan “Jo” Watters, former accounting assistant for the assistant comptroller, died Feb. 3, 2015 in Barrington, Ill. She was 80.
Mrs. Watters was born February 10, 1934, in Moline, Ill. to Verne and Anna Otilia Johnson. She graduated from Alwood Senior High School in 1951, after which she attended Augustana College in Rock Island. Following a trip by ocean liner with her parents to visit family in Sweden, she married her school sweetheart, Paul S. Watters, in 1955. The couple had five children before Paul died in 1964. She moved to Geneva, Ill., through a second marriage had four more children. Mrs. Watters divorced and raised nine children while also working. Her love of animals and compassionate nature meant strays brought home by kids usually found a home, adding a menagerie of pets to the mix.
In 1980, she moved the family to Flagstaff, Ariz., where she worked as a senior accounting assistant to the assistant comptroller at Northern Arizona University. She retired after for 14 years at NAU.
She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, spending time with her family and traveling abroad, which included seeing a live performance of her favorite musical, Oliver, in London. In 2010, she moved to Algonquin, Ill., to be near her oldest daughter and son.
Mrs. Watters is survived by her children Paula Jo Streicher, Jonathan Watters, Christopher Watters, MajaBritt “Pam” Watters, David (Valerie) Watters, Stephen (Pam) Wetter, Cynthia Johnson, Sandra Johnson and Jeffrey (Camie) Wetter; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents and her first husband, Paul.
Memorial donations may be made to Save-A-Pet Inc., PO Box 266, Grayslake, Illinois 60030.