BANGOR - GAY (HADDEN) WATSON of Bangor, Maine (formally of Orono and Presque Isle, Maine) died of cancer & complications related to Alzheimer’s on July 20, 2015 at the age of 87.

She was born in Manhattan, NY March 7, 1928 the daughter of the late Gavin Hadden and Rebecca Seldon (Lloyd) Hadden.

During the years leading up to World War II, Mrs. Watson spent summers in Darien, Connecticut (before Book of the Month Club discovered it as she liked to say) and winters in New York City. Part of her early education included the Chapin School in New York City.

During the summer of 1941, her family moved to Alexandria VA where her Father was part of the Manhattan District/Project and (after the War) was the Editor of a history of the Project. Her education continued at the Oldfields School in Glencoe MD where she graduated as part of the Class of 1946. She also got further education at Briarcliff College (later absorbed by Pace University) and at Westbrook College where she got her AA in Library Science in May 1976. During World War II, she had watched the Pentagon being built and then (after the War) got her first job there (as a Clerk Typist.)

In 1956 (shortly before the death of her Father); she met Richard Armistead Watson, then a student at Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Virginia and married him on June 1, 1957. From that date until his death in May 1985, she shared his ministry as they traveled from Virginia to Maryland to the US Virgin Islands and then (in July 1969) to Maine. Their Ministry in Maine included churches in the Greater Portland area and ended in May 1985 with his death while Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Presque Isle. In October 1985, she moved to Orono where she became active at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Bangor (including running the Book Table at the Lobster Luncheon for a number of years.) She was also a 10+ year volunteer in the Library at the Asa Adams School in Orono.

She is predeceased by her husband, Richard Armistead Watson, and her four older brothers.

She is survived by her sons Richard, Jr of Bradley and Gavin of Columbia MD, her daughters in law Corrina & Nora, Grandson Gavin Hadden Watson, Jr and Granddaughter Rebecca Ann Watson also of Columbia MD and her Sisters-in-Law Betty Hadden of Brunswick, ME; and Carol Hadden of Westbough MA plus many nieces & nephews around the US as well as many friends and family both around the US and around the world.

The Funeral Services will be 1:30pm Saturday July 25, 2015 held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 225 French Street, Bangor, Maine. She will then be buried at the family camp known as “Applegarthe.”

Those who wish to remember Gay in a special way can send donations (in her memory) to the Endowment Fund at St. John’s Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 8, Presque Isle. Maine 04769. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.