Wayne Lee Watts

Wayne Lee Watts, age 86 years, of Stuart, Iowa, passed away peacefully at the Bright –Kavanagh House in Des Moines, Iowa on the evening of September 12, 2021. Wayne was born May 13, 1935, in Jefferson Township, in rural Adair County, Iowa to Merle and Winter (Brown) Watts. Wayne was welcomed by older brother Ralph and, in later years, was joined by Phyllis, Larry and Linda. Wayne enjoyed being raised on the family’s Century farm where he helped with chicken chores (not his favorite) and all of the daily duties that farm children of that era often endured. Wayne attended country school through 8th grade. His high school years were spent at Stuart High School where he met his love that would last a lifetime - Margery LeMar. Wayne participated in football, several plays and earned the nickname “Choo Choo”. The American Legion selected Wayne to attend Hawkeye Boy’s State, and he was elected senior class president of the Class of 1953. After graduation, Wayne worked for Bookey Packing Company (later Swift’s) in Des Moines and started farming. A disastrous August hail storm ruined his first crop just before he and Margery were to be wed on October 14, 1956. With that, Wayne joined the Airforce and left for Lackland Airforce Base in San Antonio, Texas, in, December 1956, which was followed by advanced technical schooling at Gunter AFB in Montgomery, Alabama. Wayne was then assigned to the High Altitude Chamber at the Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois, earning him an extra, hefty $55/mo for hazardous-duty pay. And so their adventure began...and for the next 3 ½ years, Wayne would work hard receiving a promotion ($40/mo) after taking a five-level test and receiving the highest score, which stood for two years and was published in the “Air Force Times” as the highest score for altitude testing during that period. Just after this promotion in 1959 came the birth of their first daughter, Nancy Diane. The couple would stay in Rantoul until the following December, when Wayne was honorably discharged from the Air Force. With Farming in his blood, they would move back to Iowa to start again. Life on their Adair County farm was not easy: no indoor plumbing and 13 miles from any town, a “city” wife who had not grown up in the country, plus a new daughter, Cynthia Sue, in 1964. With Lil Red, came the indoor plumbing! For the next 62 years, Wayne and Margery would live, farm, raise their daughters Nancy and Cynthia, welcome their grandchildren and immerse themselves into the community that they loved. Wayne was an active Mason (50-year member), a trustee for Harrison Township and served at many local, state and federal elections. Above all else, Wayne was a steward for the land, implementing conservation practices and responsible livestock production, where he was known to bottle-feed his calves. He continued his education by attending and completing Veteran’s Farm COOP Classes for three years and receiving a Diploma from Des Moines Area Community College. In 1995, Wayne and Margery moved from the farm they shared for 35 years into Stuart, where they built their “retirement” home and lived out their golden years as they continued to farm. Wayne did not get the opportunity to see his 2021 harvest; however, we know he will be eagerly watching for the bean yield, for Wayne spurned suits and snobbery for bibbed overalls, Redwing boots, seed corn caps and nature. Spending time in nature was an investment in his own grace. Wayne was preceded in death by his wife, Margery (LeMar) Watts, older brother, Ralph Watts, infant brother, Dean Watts, father, Merle Watts and mother, Winter (Brown) Watts. Wayne is survived by his daughter Nancy Watts-Heyer (Bradley) of Polk City, daughter, Cynthia Salsberry (Steven) of Waukee, younger sisters Phyllis Bruecks, of Omaha, and Linda Thompson of Johnston, and younger brother, Larry Watts (Faye) of Stuart. He is also survived by his Grandchildren; Dyanna (Lloyd) Whistler of Polk City, Ashley Heyer of Chicago, IL, Bret Heyer of Polk City, Jennifer Richards (Jacob) of Ankeny, Michael Wright (Jensen) of Urbandale, Landon (Betsy) Salsberry of West Des Moines, Olivia Salsberry of Waukee, and six, great-grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews. A graveside service for family and friends will be held at the Stuart South Grove Cemetery on Saturday, October 2, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. Please be respectful and use Covid precautions if you are not fully vaccinated. Any memorial contributions will be directed toward establishing a scholarship fund in Wayne’s name for any West Central senior(s) pursuing an agriculture-related degree, beginning in the fall of 2022.