ELWYN MORGAN WATT JR.
Elwyn Morgan "E.M." Watt Jr., 89, husband of Patsy Prescott Watt, died on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital.
Born on Dec. 5, 1930, in Sumter, he was a son of the late Elwyn Morgan Watt Sr. and Pauline Kvaternik Singleton Watt. He graduated from Edmunds High School in 1949, where he excelled in sports. He continued his academic and athletic career at Presbyterian College and he served as president of the student body. In 1952 and 1953, E.M. was the individual high scorer at the State Intercollegiate Track Championship. He served in the U.S. Army Infantry and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. He became a teacher and coach at Mayesville High School in 1955 and, later that year, moved to Mayewood High School, where he was instrumental in building the track. He was extremely proud of the five-man track team that won the state track meet. He was a farmer and dairyman as well as an avid hunter and fisherman, who loved nature and the outdoors, especially his farm that he named "The Swamp." He attended Lewis Chapel United Methodist Church, where he served as a Sunday school teacher. He was inducted into the Sumter Sports Hall of Fame, served on the Sumter School District 2 board for eight years, was a member of the board at Sumter Dairies, served as past president of the Sumter County Farm Bureau, was a member of the American Legion Post 15, and was active in the American Cancer Society.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years; three children, Meri Wyn Hudson (Steve), Georgana Stegner (Joe) and Morgan Watt (Sherri), all of Sumter; a special exchange student that became a member of the family, Oliver "Oli" Thoma of Germany; six grandchildren, Jordan Ruska (Hal), Meredith Wiseman, Hazel Gray Hudson Hughes (Walter), Harrison Hudson, Bryson Watt and John Myers Watt; two sisters, Tona Chandler (Pat) and Marguerite Huggins, all of Sumter; two brothers, Frank Singleton (Joanne) of Chapin and Bob Singleton (Jane) of Florida; sisters-in-law, Jeannine Watt and Dawn Yates (Joel), both of Sumter, and Bonnie Strange of Statesboro, Georgia; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by sisters, Caro Leigh Jackson McElveen, Wylma Ridgeway, Clyde Hook, Edna Touchberry, Gertrude Benbow, Iris Mills, Roberta Singleton and Vera Stokes Bradham; and brothers, John Allen Watt, Thomas Watt and William Singleton.
E.M. will always be remembered for his diverse athletic ability, humor and quick wit, generosity toward strangers and his love for his family. He was especially proud to open his home for Thanksgiving Day gatherings for family and friends throughout the last 50-plus years.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a private family service will be held. A public memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Brunson Cemetery Fund, 200 McInnis Store Road, Sumter, SC 29153 or to Lewis Chapel United Methodist Church, 1510 Plowden Mill Road, Sumter, SC 29153.
Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.