Gwen Watts

Gwen Watts, 89, died June 9, 2012 at the Providence Horizon House in Anchorage.

A celebration of life will be held Friday, June 22, 2012 at 11 am at the Providence Horizon House Chapel, 4140 Folker Street, 2nd floor, Anchorage, AK.

Gwen was born August 12, 1922 in Seattle, Washington to Otto and Anna Lieseke. She graduated from Silverdale High School in Bremerton, WA in 1940. She married William Leonard Jennings, Jr. in 1945. She lived in Washington and Texas before moving to Alaska in 1962 with her second husband Floyd Holt (Pete) Watts. She worked as a telephone operator in Coleman, TX; a Smith Tower switchboard operator in Seattle, WA; at Northern Commercial Credit and Bagoy's Florist in Anchorage, all before becoming the owner of The Apple Box Toy Store in Anchorage.

Gwen loved reading, needlework and challenging puzzles. Her son Bill says, "Whether it was coming home to find all of our belongings sitting on the curbside or creating a meal out of thin air, Mom pulled us through some tough times, and she managed it with such beauty and grace we kids hardly knew those times were hard-scrabble. Very near 90 times she danced around this star of ours, her toes were stepped on more than once, but she can now say I danced beautifully."

Her daughter Pamela says, "Mom had lots of style. She made great meatloaf and big pots of pinto beans. She hand-sewed our prom gowns and graduation dresses. She was always singing along with Hank Williams and Gogi Grant. She couldn't keep still when she heard Chattanooga Choo Choo, and man, could she dance. "

Gwen is survived by her son, William Leonard Jennings III; her daughter and son in law, Cheryl Anna Hall and Buster David Hall; her daughter and son in law, Pamela Kay Jennings and Bill Baker; five grandsons, Zachary Jennings, Aaron Jennings, William David Hall, Tim Hall, and Clifton Hall; and one granddaughter, Rebekah Hall; and many great grandchildren.

Memorial donations can be made in her memory to the Providence Horizon House in Anchorage.