Johnette Loris Watson

Mary Johnette Loris Watson

May 31, 1959 – August 23, 2023
Johnette Watson, 64, passed away surrounded by loved ones on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, after a 4-year battle with cancer. Born in Miami, FL, she moved with her family to the Mississippi Coast, where she has spent most of her life. She was one of five children, the only girl in the middle of all boys. Johnette is preceded in death by her parents, James Edward Loris, Sr and Mary Ida Loris. She is survived by her two children, Justin (Mai) Vaughn and Katie (Justin) Franklin, her four beloved brothers, Michael Bruce (Lisa) Bemis, Stanley Earl Bemis, James Edward (Amber) Loris, Jr and William Casey (Martha) Loris. She was a devoted grandmother to her six grandchildren Jin, Maynu, Ethan, Vincent, Christian and Myla. She was loved by her nieces and nephews, Maggie Bemis, Theresa (Drew) Newquist, John Loris, Cullen Whetstone, Hayden (Anna) Whetstone, Carley Whetstone and Lauren Loris. She is also survived by her friend and former spouse, Kenny Watson.

After graduating Pascagoula High School in 1976, she continued her education at Ole Miss, where she was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority. She worked numerous jobs before finding her career at the Chevron Refinery in Pascagoula, where she retired after 34 years of dedicated service. She was also a parishioner at St. Michael Catholic Church in Biloxi.

Johnette was the life of the party, with her breath-taking looks and vibrant personality. She was a fiercely dedicated mom, who waited with great anticipation for her newest granddaughter. She enjoyed winning while bowling and playing bourre’ with her brothers, Mike and Jamie. She loved interior design and spent many hours filling her home with warmth and kindness. You could also find her on the golf course, enjoying the beautiful beaches of Destin, or at the casino giving her brothers Mississippi Stud lessons.

The family is so thankful that Johnette was blessed with the most kind and loving caregivers. Justin and Mai Vaughn along with Johnette’s lifelong friend, Jill Mallett Olsen, provided around the clock care with unmatched love and compassion.

A Celebration of Life will be held at O’Bryant O’Keefe Funeral Home in Pascagoula, MS on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. Visitation will start at 1:00 pm until 3:00pm.  Memorial Service will begin in the Chapel at 3:00 pm. After the Memorial service, a Family Private committal will follow at Machpelah Cemetery in Pascagoula.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Canopy Children’s Solutions (mycanopy.org) or SoSo Strong Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (sosostrongpbtf.org) in her memory.

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