Darrell Franklin Watson

Mr. Darrell Franklin Watson, age 86 of Ashville, Al, passed away in a Birmingham Hospital on June 9, 2026. Darrell was born April 28, 1940 in Terre Haute, Indiana to the late Ralph and Lois Lowe Watson as one of 7 children.

Darrell grew up in Terre Haute, Indiana and was employed at Indiana Gas & Chemical for several years while residing in Centerpoint where the family raised goats, pigs, rabbits and chickens over the years. Darrell enjoyed fishing, frog-gigging and could always be found tinkering around in the garage during the warm months and asleep in his office chair in front of his heater in the winter. Darrell and Peggy relocated to Hueytown, Alabama in November 1989 when Darrell began working at Koppers Industries in Dolomite until the plant closed in 1997. Darrell’s first wife, Peggy passed away in January 1998 due to complications of pneumonia. At that time, Darrell was a truck driver for Plybrico in Hueytown. In August 1999, Darrell married Audrey Chafin and moved to Ashville, Alabama and worked as a truck driver for North American Construction in Irondale until he retired.

Darrell is survived by his wife Audrey Watson; son, David Watson (Shelly); daughters, Tonya Anderson and Toni Watson; step daughters, Sandria Sturdivant (Doug) and Andrea Millard (Chuck); brothers, Gary Watson (Linda) and Max Watson (Linda); 9 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 8 great great grandchildren. He is predeceased by his wife of 37 years, Peggy Watson; sisters, Clarice Watson and Sue Green; brothers, Norm Watson and Vern Watson.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 16, 2026 beginning at 2:00 PM in the chapel of Patterson-Forest Grove Funeral Home with interment to follow in Forest Grove Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 12:00 PM until service time.

Patterson-Forest Grove Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Watson family during their time of bereavement. Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pattersonfuneralhomes.com

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