James Allen Watson, age 68, of Clarence, MO, was born August 23, 1954 at Samaritan Hospital in Macon, Missouri. Jim died Tuesday, August 30, 2022, at the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia, MO, the son of Allen Christman and Ferne Louise (Reynolds) Watson. He was a member of the Clarence United Methodist Church, the Clarence Historical Club, and was mayor of Clarence for 8 years and 8 months. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Granville and Mary Watson and maternal Oliver Perry and Bessie Fern Reynolds; by his parents Allen and Ferne Watson, his sister Joan Delea Andrews; his brother Robert Watson, his paternal Aunt Betty And Uncle Nelson Thompson and 12 maternal aunts and uncles and first cousins. Jim is survived by his two children, Alexander Watson (Clara) of Marceline, MO and Angela Watson Robertson (Scott) of Kansas City, MO; four grandchildren, Brynn Watson Robertson of Kansas City, MO; and Mason, Carson, and Garrett Skinner of Marceline, MO; sister, Betty Sue Watson of Arnold, MO, niece Casey Marie Banks (Kris) and great niece Leila Rosemarie Banks of Newberg, Oregon, many dear cousins, colleagues and friends. Special thanks to his many loved ones, Jo Ann McMahon, Bill and Rose Thompson, Brian Thompson, Carla Koontz, Dana Perry, Tresia Griffith, Lee Schoonover, Laura Poole and the many neighborhood children who were regular visitors on his front porch. Jim attended Clarence Elementary and Jr High school, and graduated from South Shelby high school in 1972. He was a member of the 1970 South Shelby High School State Championship football team, participated in choir, theater, speech and debate and student government. He graduated from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University) in 1976 with a B.S.E. in Social Studies and was a member of the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity. Jim became an educator and taught and coached at several Missouri schools; Linn County R-1 (Browning), Paris, and ended his teaching career after 20+ years at Moberly High School (MHS). At MHS he taught World History and Social Studies and was the sponsor of the Student Senate. He was involved in leadership activities, locally and around the Northeast District. He was the Assistant Football Coach for the Moberly Spartans football team and was a referee for Clarence baseball and softball. Jim was a leader in his teacher association, the Moberly Education Association, an affiliate of the Missouri National Education Association (MNEA) where he served numerous terms on the executive committee and as local president. He was active politically in his state association serving as a delegate to Representative Assemblies, participating in numerous Lobby Days in Jefferson City. As the chair of the state Legislative Committee for MNEA, he was responsible for leading the development of the legislative platform and its adoption at the MNEA Representative Assembly for two years. After retirement, Jim maintained his connection to MNEA through the Mid-Missouri MNEA-Retired group. Jim was a prolific reader and student of history, government, and political science. Politically Jim spent much time and effort supporting Democratic candidates for office, nationally, statewide, and all over Northeast Missouri. If there was a parade anywhere in the area he was driving his truck decorated with tons of bumper stickers, passing out literature, and making phone calls, and manning campaign offices and headquarters. He regularly attended Democrat Days at Hannibal every spring, receiving the Grassroots Leadership award from that group. He was an active member in a number of Democratic clubs, including Shelby, Monroe, Macon, and Randolph Counties. After retirement, Jim worked as a school bus driver for South Shelby and as a technician at the DMV Drivers’ License Bureau in Moberly where he made many additional friends and reconnected with former students. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 9, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Greening- Eagan-Hayes Funeral Home in Clarence, MO. A memorial service to honor Jim will begin on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 12 noon at Clarence United Methodist Church. Interment and prayer will follow at the Maplewood Cemetery in Clarence, MO. Memorial funds suggested to be made to Neighbors Helping Neighbors of Shelby County and the United Methodist Church of Clarence for Camp Jo Ota summer camp scholarships.