The Belton Years (3)

Clyde and Leona Watson

Before moving to Belton, we drove there to look for a place to life.  We met Lathel Caskey, one of the elders, and he showed us several rent houses.  The last one we looked at was owned by an elderly couple named Clyde and Leona Watson.  We loved the house and rented it.

We developed a close friendship with Clyde and Leona.  They were much more than landlords.  They were members of the congregation we were going to serve.  They were also our neighbors. Clyde and Leona didn’t have any children of their own, so they kind of adopted Ann and me.   Clyde was an easy going, laid back salt-of-the earth kind of man.  On the outside Leona appeared to be stern, conservative, and tight with money. On the inside, Leona had a heart of gold.  They were people with some financial means, and they often gave generously to mission causes.  

I was sitting in their living room one day when a man, who was raising funds for a mission project, came calling.  Leona wasn’t home, but Clyde was impressed with the man’s cause.   As we sat there he wrote him out a fairly generous check for that day and time.  Before he left Leona returned.  He introduced Leona to the caller and explained the man’s work for the Lord.  At one point he said, “Pudd’n (that’s what he always called her), I wrote this man out a check, but I really don’t know why I didn’t write it for twice as much."   Leona said, “Why don’t you tear it up and double it?”  Leona was not a frivolous spender, but when the chips were down, she was generous.  

One of my favorite Clyde and Leona stories involves their visit to Niagara Falls.   Clyde was fascinated by the whirlpool in Niagara Gorge, a few miles from the falls.  He was also the adventuresome type. Leona went the opposite way and always played it safe.  Clyde wanted to ride the cable car across the gorge so he could get a better look.  Leona wouldn’t have any part of it.  He insisted on going.  She made him give her the car keys before he boarded.

Clyde had a boat and motor, and told me to hook on to it and pull it to the lake any time I wanted to.  I didn’t even have to stop at the house and ask.  I went fishing with him a few times, but mostly I used his boat to fish at the Belton Lake with my father-in-law, Jeff Williams. 

While we were living there Clyde built a new house.   He said, “My mother never had a new house, and Pudd’n’s gonna have one.”   Then he admitted that he was really the one who wanted the new house.  He built it right next door to our house.   He had a pool table in the basement, and we often went down there to play pool.   After we left he sold both the boat and the pool table. It was really for us.  Quite often we would attend sporting events together.  Each time we did he would say, “Norman, I don’t want to stand in line for tickets.  Take this money and go buy the tickets.” He always gave me enough for both our tickets.

Clyde and Leona loved the Lord, and being without children they gave their entire estate to the church.  They were generous, loving, and some of the best friends we ever made.  Until shortly before they died, we made sure we visited in their home every time we went to Texas.  That’s the trouble when you become good friends with older people while you’re young.   They leave this earth much too soon for your liking.