Robert Thomas Watson's Obituary
Robert Thomas Watson, age 66 from Cottrellville Township, passed away
peacefully on August 18, 2025 with his family and friends at his side following a
short but valiant battle with cancer.
Bob was born on March 29, 1959 to the late Charles (Bud) and Marjorie Watson.
Since his childhood, it became obvious Bob had inherited the genes of his
grandfather, Walter (Bob) Struebing, where he became one of the areas best
hunters and fishermen. Whether it was bow hunting for deer in the North
country with his friends, or dropping a line through the ice on Lake St. Clair to
catch his limit of perch, or trolling for walleye on the St. Clair River, Bob Watson
was the best of the best. His family and friends alike will never forget the fish fries
at his home where he cooked and shared his ‘Catch of the Day’.
Robert loved life and lived it to the fullest, never leaving any stone unturned. And
although Bob loved to hunt and fish, those hobbies came second to the love of his
life, his wife Trishalana Bray-Watson. Bob and Trisha were married in Las Vegas on
June 23, 2017 and she never left his side throughout his entire battle with cancer – holding his hand when he passed away at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital.
Bob’s legacy will live on through memories and stories told by his many friends.
But perhaps none of his friends were closer than Rick and Anita Desrosiers, whom
he’s known for most of his adult life. Robert and Rocco worked together as
carpenters, and they hunted, fished, camped, and partied side by side, as well. It’s
been said to “live every day like it’s your last”; Bob and Rocco did exactly that.
Bob Watson did not want his friends to mourn his death, which is why he chose to
not have a service. Instead, he wanted everyone to sit around a campfire and
remember the good times and to tell stories about the hunt, or the catch, or the
one that got away. Trisha will host a Celebration of
Life for Robert on Saturday, September 20th, starting at 3:00 p.m., at the Southeastern Michigan Conservation Club in East China Twp.
Bob is survived by his loving wife, Trishalana; his two daughters, Alissa Seifert and
Bridget Watson; brother Thomas Robert (Vicki) Watson; grandchildren Joey,
Caitlyn, Zach, Selena, Michael, Dylan, Jesse, Elly, Roman, Nova, and Andre; his
father and mother-in-law Terry Dan Bray and Melinda Christine Thomas, and a
handful of nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle Bob, along with his bird
Coco, dog Lola, and his hundreds of koi fish.
As we go forth with heavy hearts, we do so with cherished memories of a
husband, father, grandfather, brother, son-in-law, and uncle who was one of the
kindest and most generous, fun-loving souls to ever grace this Earth. As the
dawn’s early light breaks, take a moment and look out upon the river – the two
silhouettes in the boat on the hazy sunlit horizon just might be Bob and his
grandfather, fishing together once again.
Trisha will host a Celebration of
Life for Robert (and oh what a life it was!) on Saturday, September 20th, starting at 3:00 p.m., at the Southeastern Michigan Conservation Club in East China Twp.
Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Young Funeral Home, China Twp.
To leave the family a message of comfort please visit: www.youngcolonial.com
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