Dr. Richard Oran “Dick” Watson, 89, of Jefferson City, passed away Saturday, January 18, 2025, at Heisinger Bluffs Senior Living Community.

Dick was born on October 29, 1935, in Sherman City, Kansas. His parents were Oran Earl and Mildred Irene (Cammack) Watson.

A 1953 graduate of Parsons High School in Parsons, Kansas, Dick received degrees from Parsons Junior College in 1955; Pittsburg State University in 1957; and a Doctorate Degree from Kansas City College of Osteopathy and Bioscience in 1961.

He served eight years in the United States Army Reserves from 1953-1961.

Dick was married on June 4, 1961, at the Washington Avenue Methodist Church in Parsons, Kansas to Janet Lea Smith who survives.

Dick began working as a house physician in Euless, Texas, completed his residency at Normandy Hospital in St. Louis in 1968 and began his career as an Internal Medicine physician working for Lake Ozark Clinic, Mid MO Medical Consultants, Inc., Capital Region Medical Center, and retiring in 2011 from Capital Region Medical Center Clinics and the California Resident Clinic.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church; the American Osteopathic Association, Osage Valley Osteopathic Association, Boy Scouts of America, Council of the Arts, Marriage Encounter, ABLE Board member, and was named Capital Region Physician of the Year in 2000. Dick enjoyed tennis, golf, snow skiing, 5 & 10K runs, 5 & 10k speed walks, volunteering, travel, cats, literature, poetry, music, family gatherings, and reunions. He especially loved helping people and his motto was “I’m here to serve.”

Survivors include his wife, Janet Watson, Jefferson City; his children, Daniel (Mariana) Watson, Hendersonville, North Carolina; Kelly (Bob) Collins, Syracuse, New York; David (Sarah) Watson, Eagle, Colorado; Douglas Watson, San Francisco, California; and two grandchildren, Jaden and Avery Watson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Walter Seeley.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Steve Buchholz and Rev. Kent Trimble officiating.

Burial was held at Hawthorne Memorial Gardens.

Memorials are suggested Capital Region Medical Center or to First United Methodist Church.

Services entrusted to Trimble Funeral Homes – Jefferson City. trimblefunerals.com