Vernon Lee Watts

Vernon Lee Watts, age 85 and a resident of Pass Christian, died on Friday, December 12, 2014, in Gulfport.
Mr. Watts was born in the Gillsburg Community in Amite County, Mississippi. He attended Mississippi State College from 1947-1951, graduating with a B.S. Degree in Industrial Management. Shortly after college he enlisted for his two years active duty service in the U.S. Navy. From Bainbridge, Maryland Boot Camp, he was sent to Submarine Squadron Six in Norfolk, Virginia. Upon entering the personnel office, he was told to sit down at a desk and they would find a sub to send him to in a few days. He stayed at that desk for 18 months and was in charge of the personnel filing system for the entire ComSubRonSix Unit. The commander happened to be John S. McCain, Sr., who later became Admiral and Cinc-Pac. While in Norfolk, Vernon also volunteered to go down in a diving bell and enter a submarine during a ""some sunk, some lost"" Atlantic Fleet Exercise. Another highlight of his Navy career was spending six week maneuvers in the Caribbean.
On return to civil life, his father urged him to get out of the house and go to work. When his $300 mustering-out pay was gone, he answered a newspaper ad for an automobile finance adjuster's job. On his first day on the job he was told to sit down and read a book on auto financing and then directed to catch a train to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to retrieve a repossessed automobile. The next several months were spent ""adjusting"" delinquent accounts successfully. In August of 1954, he and Ann began dating resulting in marriage that December. He received a promotion and transfer to the downtown New Orleans branch office.
After one year, they decided they had had enough of New Orleans and returned to the coast, settling in Gulfport where Vernon joined his father in the wholesale fuel business. After getting established, Vernon became coach of the West Gulfport Pee Wee football team and worked with this program for several years. A move to Long Beach resulted in a change of his coaching career to a co-director of the Long Beach Pee Wee program for several years.
Vernon's dad retired in the early 70's from Watts Oil Company and he acquired the business and remained actively involved until his retirement in the early 90's. Their retirement home was built in the mid 90's at Pass Christian Isles Timber Ridge subdivision and they were very active in the club with his golfing accomplishments including PCI Co-medalist 1984; 5 hole-in-ones; and 20 years as co-founder and director of the Dirty Dozen Golf Group of PCI.
Mr. Watts was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Ann Scutt Watts and his parents, Ruth and Vernon R. Watts of West Gulfport.
He is survived by his son, Vernon W. ""Sonny"" (Terry) Watts; his daughter, LeeAnn (Donnie) Causey; his grandchildren, Amber Watts and Blake and Nick Cozart; his siblings, Barbara Ann (Bill) Phagan, Ruth Elaine (Charlie) Ainsworth, Randy (Deborah) Watts, and Richard (Shelia) Watts; his aunt, Dorthea Manger (91 years old) of Eaton Rapids, MI and numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 19130 Commission Road in Long Beach, where family and friends may visit from 9:00 a.m. until service time. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Gulfport.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to one's favorite charity.
For more information, please call (228)539-9800.