David Claude Watson

David Claude Watson
June 28, 1948 - August 1, 2025

David Claude Watson, 77, passed away peacefully at his home in McKinney on Friday, August 1. David was born on June 28, 1948, in Boston, Massachusetts to John Alvin Watson and Rose Mary Maranjian.

David spent 36 years as a teacher and coach in the following school districts across the state of Texas: Wylie (1 year), Hamlin (3 years), Eagle Pass (1 year), Midland (8 years), Savoy (1 year), and Plano (22 years). During his time as an educator, he made a lasting impact on thousands of students, athletes, and so many teachers and coaches he worked with all those years. He was the campus athletic coordinator at four different schools in Plano and took tremendous pride in being a part of the legendary Plano Wildcat Tradition.

Outside of coaching, David was a devout Christ-follower who loved his church. He was also an avid fitness enthusiast, who loved lifting weights, and eventually grew to love cycling, amassing close to 100,000 miles on the roads around his house in Leonard, Texas. David was very proud of his Armenian heritage and loved Greek food, including his specialty, leg of lamb.

Of course, David was also a big sports fan, especially early in his life. He loved the Boston Celtics, the “old” New York Yankees, and the “old” Green Bay Packers. His favorite athletes included Mickey Mantle, Bill Russell, John Havlicek, and Earl Campbell.

David also loved old western movies. Some of his favorite actors were John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Robert Duvall. He later became a huge Lord of the Rings fan, watching every movie in the trilogy countless times.

He loved the music of the Four Seasons, Bee Gees, Eagles, Willie Nelson, Randy Travis, and many more great artists.

More than anything David loved his family and spending time with them. He was a wonderful father, grandfather, and brother.

David was preceded in death by his parents, his loving daughter Jennifer Powless, and brother in-law John Glover.

He is survived by his son Wes Watson and wife Katie, his son-in-law Scott Powless, grandchildren Noah and Bridget Watson, Kaelen Pierce and husband Ben, Kamryn Powless, and great granddaughter Gemma Brielle Pierce.

He is also survived by his five beautiful sisters Mary Bethea, Barbara Judd and husband Terry, Brenda Miles and husband Mike, Gloria Glover Hysaw and husband Jim Hysaw, Jackie Cooke and husband Mark.

David’s memory lives on with his nieces and nephews; Dixie and Drew, Amanda and Stevie, Johnny and Erika, Donnie and Ross, and many great nieces and nephews.

There will be a celebration of David’s life at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 16, at First McKinney Baptist Church (1615 W Louisiana St, McKinney, TX 75069). The service will also be livestreamed atwww.firstmckinney.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Samaritan’s Purse atwww.samaritanspurse.org.