Thomas Kennedy Watson

October 4, 1945 - February 16, 2024

Thomas Kennedy Watson (Tommy), age 78, passed away on Friday, February 16, 2024 at Indian Creek Healthcare Center in Corydon, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his father and step-mother, Maurice Carlisle. Watson, Jr. and Gladys Jayne Watson, his mother, Mary Jane Watson, brothers, Robert Watson and John Watson, and sister, Mary Pierson.

Tommy was born on October 4, 1945, the third of five children born to Maurice and Mary Jane Watson. At an early age, he began work in his dad’s service stations, and there began his love of cars. He began racing, winning races at both the Fairgrounds Motor Speedway and the Sportsdrome in Indiana. Tommy was a U.S. Army veteran, having served his country in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969.

Favorite hobbies other than cars included a love for music. He enjoyed playing both the keyboard and the accordion (an interest that may or may not have been encouraged by his immediate family!) Tommy retired from JCPS, working at the Moore Bus Compound where he loved both his buses and the people who drove them. He was also quick to tell everyone he met that he was “a friend of Bill W.” He loved his family and friends and enjoyed anytime they could be together in daily life, holidays, or reunions, especially the monthly lunches with family and friends from the Gardiner Lane neighborhood.

Tommy is survived by his wife, Linda, daughters Heather Hardy (William), and Courtney Watson, grandchildren Matthew and Kate Hardy, sister Suzanne Lile, brothers Maurice Carlisle ( MC) Watson III  (Susan), Craig Watson, and Jim Watson (Theresa), in-laws Bill Pierson, Tina Daniels, and Arlene Watson, and many nieces and nephews. Also included in Tommy’s family is the assortment of cats he fondly took care of, both his own and also his “grand” cats.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, March 2 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Okolona Church of Christ, 6105 Outer Loop in Louisville. A Celebration of Tommy’s life will begin at 2 p.m. at the church.

We would like to also thank the caregivers at Indian Creek for Tommy’s care these past few months. They are the most patient people and took care of him as if he was family.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Healing Place in Louisville.