Nova Jean Watson

Nova Jean Watson (nee Fiori) of St. Charles, MO, formerly of Tontitown, AR passed away on March 31, 2023 at the age of 87. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Daniel “Danny” Ray Watson; loving mother of Laura Danette Miller (Jack), Lesley Ann Watson; grandmother of Ben Miller (Lauren), Ali Phillips (Greg), Logan Miller (Mary); great grandmother of Dakota, Austyn, Ireland, and Leeland Phillips; sister of Freda Fern Rodgers. She was a member of St. Cletus Catholic Church in St. Charles, MO and former member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tontitown, AR, where she was also a member of the choir. Nova Jean was born August 21st, 1935, in Tontitown to William “Bill” and Fern (nee Haney) Fiori. She and Danny Ray were married at St. Joseph Church on November 21, 1955 and remained married for 51 years before his passing on May 25, 2007. She loved her hometown and had a passion for preserving the history of her Italian heritage. Thanks to her amazing memory she was the go-to person when conversations turned to questions about a family’s lineage. She was a member of the Tontitown Preservation Project and assisted the Tontitown Historical Museum as Chair of its Oral History and Video Committee. The Tontitown Preservation Project conducted over 50 oral interviews of Tontitown elders and these life stories were published in a book entitled “Memories I Can’t Let Go Of”. She was instrumental in helping organize the first annual Tontitown Reunion and Old-Fashioned Polenta Smear in 2002. And she loved working at and attending the Tontitown Grape Festival. She also loved her adopted “hometown” of St. Louis and enjoyed taking friends and relatives on tours of The Hill or to Cardinals ball-games or hosting them at her house sharing food and laughter. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 10:30 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tontitown. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery in Tontitown. Visitation will be Friday, April 14, 2023 from 4:30 to 6pm with a Rosary beginning at 6pm at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tontitown Memorials may be made to the Tontitown Historical Museum P.O. Box 144 Tontitown, AR 72770. Online condolences may be left at www.siscofuneral.com

Nova Jean Watson

August 21, 1935 - March 31, 2023