Margaret Watson Stassi

December 28, 2020

STASSI, MARGARET ELIZABETH “BETTY” WATSON (Age 91) died peacefully in the early morning hours of December 28, 2020. A devoted mother and homemaker, Betty will be remembered for her cooking and baking skills, and the delicious meals and desserts she served to family and friends. She also was a talented seamstress and made many outfits and prom dresses for her daughters when they were growing up. Betty loved card games, camping, keeping up with current events, and the Crimson Tide. She could complete the daily newspaper crossword puzzle in pen. Betty was born in 1929 in Monroeville, Alabama, to Emeris Carlton and Margaret Simmons Watson. After graduating from high school a year early, she packed all her belongings in one bag and took a bus to the University of Alabama, arriving in the back of a pickup truck after the bus broke down. Shortly after she arrived on campus, she met Paul Stassi, who had returned to the university to finish his education after serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Betty left school and became Paul's "copilot for life" when they wed in August 1947. Betty and Paul were married for 67 years before his death, in April 2015. Betty is survived by six children: Paula Ott (Bob), Joe (Diane), Peggy Coale (Scott), Laura, Jeanie Schwarz (Ken), and Lisa Everett (Dave); 15 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister and two brothers; and many nieces and nephews. Burial will be private at Quantico National Cemetery next to her beloved Paul. In lieu of flowers, and if you are so moved, please consider honoring Betty’s life with a donation to your local food bank or Food for Others (foodforothers.org).