I remember Harvey B. Watson as Bruce or a/k/a "Joe" since kindergarten at Thomas Houghten Elementary. He was like my kid brother. I remember we would talk and confide in each other from the time we were little thru adulthood. We laughed together and we cried together! One of the memories that stands out in my mind,(besides being in love with Ethelyn Childress for years) is I can still visualize him walking to school with his baseball glove attached to his levi's with his belt. He thought he was going to play for the Tiger's and wanted to be another Harvey Keane. I'm not sure (maybe some of our former classmates would remember) but I think it was about the time he started going by "Harvey." I miss his wonderful wacky sense of humor and hearing about his adventures. It still brings tears when I think of the loss of my friend Joe and how much his 3 children missed. Carol Long Burman
Harvey[Bruce] Watson. I probably knew Joe longer than anyone because we stood in line at T Houghten to register for kindergarten. We were placed in alphabetical order and he was right behind me and our first names at the time were Bruce. I have hated my name forever and so did he. I stayed with it but he became Joe and later Harvey. He was always Joe to me. We did all kinds of stuff together during the school years and years after when we were married and raising children. Joe was a hard worker and super friend. I know everyone in our Gradeschool class liked him very much. He was voted class president but soon turned it down I think because His Dad was very sick or had just died. I was runner up and gave the presidential speech but always knew he was that classes choice. His untimely passing still comes to mind often and the fond memories I have of our friendship.
Carol and Bruce you have 'nailed it' with your long running friendship comments.
I met Joe in Redford High, our freshman year. He had a wonderful personality, lots of wit and quick comebacks. He knew how to make folks laugh and 'lighten up'. I knew that some folks called him Harvey, and actually I did too at times, but for the most part...he was just Joe, and fun to be around.
It's sad to realize he left us so young, but not to have left us with such wonderful and lasting memories would be even sadder. "So 'Thanks for the Memories, Joe' ... they'll live as long as your many friends do, and there are MANY, to be sure."
I am sad to read that “Joe” Watson passed away so young. I too, remember him as a fun loving and genuinely nice guy. Hearing of his loss brought back many memories of T. Houghton and all the wonderful people who attended and later moved on to Redford High. I found a wonderful old photo taken in the gym at Houghton. It has no date, but was taken sometime between the time I started there in the 4th grade and our graduation. Bruce Tracy and Joe Watson are in the forefront with John Bisco, and Dennis Urcheck playing a board game. Deanna Benjamin, Sonja Soorus, Karen Mc Murtry and Carol Ann Long are shown in another group, and Charles Ganathie, Billy Mc Mun, John Garcia and Dwight Rogers are in the background. How bittersweet to remember all the good friends of that time and place and know that Joe is no longer with us.
Harvey Watson Died Nov 1979 Redford Twp
Carol Anne Long (Burman)
I remember Harvey B. Watson as Bruce or a/k/a "Joe" since kindergarten at Thomas Houghten Elementary. He was like my kid brother. I remember we would talk and confide in each other from the time we were little thru adulthood. We laughed together and we cried together! One of the memories that stands out in my mind,(besides being in love with Ethelyn Childress for years) is I can still visualize him walking to school with his baseball glove attached to his levi's with his belt. He thought he was going to play for the Tiger's and wanted to be another Harvey Keane. I'm not sure (maybe some of our former classmates would remember) but I think it was about the time he started going by "Harvey."I miss his wonderful wacky sense of humor and hearing about his adventures. It still brings tears when I think of the loss of my friend Joe and how much his 3 children missed.
Carol Long Burman
Bruce Tracey
Harvey[Bruce] Watson.
I probably knew Joe longer than anyone because we stood in line at T Houghten to register for kindergarten. We were placed in alphabetical order and he was right behind me and our first names at the time were Bruce. I have hated my name forever and so did he. I stayed with it but he became Joe and later Harvey. He was always Joe to me. We did all kinds of stuff together during the school years and years after when we were married and raising children. Joe was a hard worker and super friend. I know everyone in our Gradeschool class liked him very much. He was voted class president but soon turned it down I think because His Dad was very sick or had just died. I was runner up and gave the presidential speech but always knew he was that classes choice. His untimely passing still comes to mind often and the fond memories I have of our friendship.
Rest in Peace Joe.
Bruce Tracey 5-16-2009
Linda Stultz (Tucker)
Carol and Bruce you have 'nailed it' with your long running friendship comments.I met Joe in Redford High, our freshman year. He had a wonderful personality, lots of wit and quick comebacks. He knew how to make folks laugh and 'lighten up'.
I knew that some folks called him Harvey, and actually I did too at times, but for the most part...he was just Joe, and fun to be around.
It's sad to realize he left us so young, but not to have left us with such wonderful and lasting memories would be even sadder. "So 'Thanks for the Memories, Joe' ... they'll live as long as your many friends do, and there are MANY, to be sure."
Sonja Soorus/Torzynski (Wilson)
I am sad to read that “Joe” Watson passed away so young. I too, remember him as a fun loving and genuinely nice guy. Hearing of his loss brought back many memories of T. Houghton and all the wonderful people who attended and later moved on to Redford High. I found a wonderful old photo taken in the gym at Houghton. It has no date, but was taken sometime between the time I started there in the 4th grade and our graduation. Bruce Tracy and Joe Watson are in the forefront with John Bisco, and Dennis Urcheck playing a board game. Deanna Benjamin, Sonja Soorus, Karen Mc Murtry and Carol Ann Long are shown in another group, and Charles Ganathie, Billy Mc Mun, John Garcia and Dwight Rogers are in the background. How bittersweet to remember all the good friends of that time and place and know that Joe is no longer with us.