Dawn Watson, 53, of Gold Canyon, AZ, (formerly of Ankeny and Montezuma) went to be with her Heavenly Father on Sept. 6, 2023. She passed away under the care of her family and hospice at Hospice of the Valley - Dobson Home in Chandler, AZ, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Dawn’s sister-in-law Karol Watson also served as a personal physical care advocate and trusted friend. Celebration of Life Services are currently pending. Holland-Coble Funeral Home of Montezuma is in charge of arrangements.
Dawn was born to James Arthur and Betty Louise (Reynolds) Pearson on Dec. 10, 1969, in Keosauqua as the youngest of their six children. She grew up in Pulaski and attended Davis County Community Schools, where she graduated in 1988. Dawn went on to attend Central College in Pella, earning her BA degree in accounting with highest honors in 1992. She earned her CPA certificate in November 1992. She started her career with KPMG public accounting firm in Des Moines and was a part of the management team at several successful companies including Vermeer Corporation, Accumold, and Hy-Line International. She finished the last several years of her successful career as owner of Watson Consulting.
Dawn married the love of her life, Brian Watson, on May 24, 2001, in Orange County, CA. They were parents to Brianne, Paige, Camden, and Ryan. Through the years, Brian and Dawn made their home in Iowa, Georgia, Kansas, Texas, and Arizona.
Dawn’s faith was strong. She especially loved the worship portion of services at Community Hope and Sun Valley Community Churches. Dawn loved volunteering at Blue Valley Elementary School in Overland Park, KS, and was also president of the Parent-Teacher Organization. She taught Sunday School at Community Hope and volunteered as a VBS leader at Grace Church. Dawn and Brian loved to travel and took many beautiful trips over the years. Beach locations (if there was also a pool) in the winter and mountains in the summer were frequently enjoyed. Dawn will be remembered as a social event planner. She was the “hostess with the mostess” for many family events as well as cherished gatherings with friends. The farm in Iowa and poolside in Arizona were favored locations.
Dawn’s memory will be honored by her husband Brian Watson of Gold Canyon, AZ; children Brianne (Joey DeJoode) Watson of Slater, Paige (Nick McCarty) Watson of Ankeny, Camden (Brittany) Watson of Sully, and Ryan Watson of Tempe, AZ; grandchildren Aubree DeJoode, Lydia Short, Riley Pollpeter, Hadley Pollpeter, Lewis Watson, and Eli Watson; her mother Betty Pearson of Ottumwa; siblings Mildred (Russell Stewart) Pearson of Bloomfield, James (Kelley Davis) Pearson of Burlington, Vic Pearson of Burlington, Inez Miller of Agency, Diana (Jim) Stufflebeam of Bloomfield; brother-in-law Mark (Vonna) Watson of Traer; sisters-in-law Ann Watson of Searsboro and Karol Watson of Montezuma; and many nieces, nephews, and close friends.
Dawn was preceded in death by her father James A. Pearson; brother-in-law Gene Miller; and in-laws Raymond and Mary Jo Watson.
