Horace Watson, III

Mr. Horace E. Watson, III passed away on November 29, 2013, in New Braunfels, Texas, where he lived for the past twenty five years in his unique Hill Country home. The much-loved eldest child of Horace E. Watson, Jr. and Julie S. Watson, Horace was born on April 24, 1951, in Laredo, Texas. Horace was a true son of Laredo, descending from pioneer families. His great grandfathers were August C. Richter, on his paternal side, and Pedro Pablo Leyendecker, which linked Horace back to Laredo's founder, Don Tmas Snchez, on his maternal side. Horace was better known by his nickname, "Bucker", a play on his own dad's childhood nickname, "Buck." Bucker's earliest childhood home was on the family's pasture land in south Laredo, then well outside the city limits. Bucker's early exposure to the charms of the South Texas brush country led to a life-long love of the outdoors. Bucker learned to hunt and fish as a young boy on father/son hunting and fishing excursions with his dad and brother and numerous Richter cousins. Bucker enjoyed hunting and fishing, often in Port Aransas, where the family spent many happy summers, throughout his life. Bucker attended Laredo schools, graduating from St. Joseph's Academy in 1969. He continued his education at the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a B.A. in German. Bucker obtained his Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree in 1977 from St. Mary's University School of Law. He went on to obtain a Master's Degree in Tax Law from Boston University School of Law, obtaining his LLM in 1979. One rare feat Bucker accomplished was a perfect score on his pilot's exam; he became a private pilot in 1970. Bucker was a kind and gentle person, independent, yet close to his family and dearest friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Horace E. Watson, Jr. and Julie S. Watson as well as his grandparents, Horace E. Watson and Helen Richter "Dolly" Watson and Col. Edward Shaifer and Julia Leyendecker Shaifer. He is survived by his aunt, Julia Watson Jones, his brother, Jonathan E. (Deborah) Watson, his sister, Julia "Cissy" (Dominick) Narcisco, nephew, Jonathan E. Watson, Jr., and niece, Katherine E. Watson. Bucker is also survived by first cousins: James K. Jones, Jr.; Margaret Jones Hopson; Elizabeth Jones (Joe) Rubio; and Owen Shaifer. He is also survived by many other cousins and dear friends. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday the 16th of December 2013 beginning at 10 a.m. at Christ Church Episcopal, 2320 Lane St. with Reverend Paul Frey presiding. Arrangements are under the direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels, 1410 Jacaman Rd., Laredo, TX 78041, 956.722.8850.