Alice "Jean" Dunlap Watson, 76 of Paxton, passed away at 6:32 a.m. Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, November 8, 2024, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 407 W. Pells Street, Paxton with Father Nestor Sanchez officiating.  Burial will follow in Ludlow Twp. Cemetery, Ludlow.

Visitation will be from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Friday, November 8, at Baier Family Funeral Services, 406 E. Pells Street, Paxton.

Jean was born January 8, 1948, at Mercy Hospital, daughter of George W. and Frances I. Richardson Dunlap.  She married Donald D. Watson, September 11, 1966, in Camden, New Jersey.  They divorced in 1979 and he preceded her in death August 14, 2010.

She spent her childhood in the Paxton area, graduating from Paxton High School in 1966.  She lived in Camden, NJ and then Indianapolis for 25 years where she was Operations Manager for a material handling company.  She then returned to Paxton in 1996 where she worked at the University of Illinois, Business and Financial Services Office, retiring in 2010.

Jean is survived by one brother-in-law, Jon Sheehan of Paxton, one aunt, Patricia (Jerry) Rydell of Paxton, two uncles, Jim (Gertie) Richardson of Thomasboro, Vince Richardson of Shorewood, a sister-in-law Sandra (Richard) Annussek of Pennsauken, NJ, two nieces, three nephews, four great nieces, five great nephews and numerous cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Joyce Ann Hewerdine and Janet I. Sheehan.

Jean was an avid genealogy buff, loved working on the family history, publishing it in 2018.  She was a member of the Nelson County Genealogical Society, Ford County Historical Society (serving on board of directors 2013-2015), Governor Thomas Ford D.A.R., Ford County Republican Party, National Genealogical Society, and a contributor for find-a-grave.com.

She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, where she served as secretary and a member of St. Mary CCW (Woman of the Year 2012).  She enjoyed crocheting, quilting, jigsaw puzzles, collecting lapel pins and was a die-hard Cubs fan.

Memorials may be made to St. Mary Catholic Church, Paxton.  Condolences and memories can be shared with the family at www.baierfuneralservices.com.