Marcella Joan Watts

Marcella ‘Joan’ Watts, 90, of Dows passed away Friday, March 29, 2019 at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be directed to the family to be donated to an organization in which Joan was active.

Joan was born on October 25, 1928 in Mahaska Co., Iowa. She was the daughter of Opal ‘Polly’ Armstrong Boatman and William ‘Ray’ Boatman. Raised in Des Moines and Barnes City, Iowa, Joan graduated from Barnes City High School in 1945.

On March 16, 1950 she was united in marriage to Wayne J. Watts and they made their home in Des Moines and in the Barnes City area until they settled in Colo, Iowa.

Joan was a long-time member of the United Methodist Church in Colo, where she was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and later attended the United Methodist Church in Dows.

She was a member of the Presbyterian Quilting Club and helped make many quilts, which have been donated, raffled, and sold. She was also a member of the Dows Senior Citizens and was an active volunteer at Dows’ thrift store, Second Chances, where she spent many hours sorting, marking, displaying, and selling gently used items.

Joan is survived by two brothers: Robert (Wilma) Boatman, Ankeny, IA, and Dallas (Vernadine) Boatman of Mcminnville, OR; three children: Deb (Dave) Oelmann, Dows, Pam Watts, Richmond, VA, and Randy (Diana) Watts, Colo. Grandchildren include: Amy Jo (Wade) Hays, Megan Mancillas, Eric (Talia) Upchurch, Danielle (Dustin) Springer, Christopher (Stephanie) Watts, and Patrick Watts. Great-grandchildren: Will and TJ Hays, JJ Tarango, Etienne and Elle Mancillas, Tyce and Jensen Upchurch, Colin, Eli, and Zachary Springer, and Haley Dessicino,

Joan was preceded in death by her husband Wayne and both parents.