The ink on his arm noted, “no-one gets out alive.” As was usual for Tom, he would have congratulated himself on the appropriateness of his choice of tattoo. Tom Watt, (b 1958) passed away in the arms of his loving wife Marlene on Thursday, March 8, 2018. In his 60 years of life, he played practical jokes, teased the people he loved unmercifully, and served up generous and sharp portions of sarcasm to anyone he believed deserved a helping. He was a complicated man who was deeplyloved by his family and wellrespected by his colleagues. Tom’s life was well-lived. He went from being a hellraising teenager, to joining the army, a career he abandoned, he claimed, because “they wouldn’t send me to Germany” but more likely because he was too headstrong to be reigned-in by authority. Tom’s stint in the army instilled discipline in him, and he claimed that joining the army reduced the number of times the RCMP had to show up at his Mom and Dad’s house. He also loved to brag that he was an outstanding soldier. His family was skeptical, until they read his army records. After the army, Tom followed in his dad’s footsteps working on the rigs, a job that would become his passion: with dragons in his chest, he was married to the iron and lived to pull the dragons out of the ground. Those who worked with him for 40 years in the patch would say he was the roughest roughneck around – a tough man – a strong man who worked like the devil. He was fast, precise, and safe, and known for being straight up, honest, blunt, and proud. Tom was a bit conceited about his talents, usually with good reason. He spoke gruffly and was made of iron. He expected others to measure up to his standards and wouldn’t tolerate mediocrity because iron sharpens iron. There was a “roughneck-Tom” and “a family-Tom” and while they were both steadfast and upstanding men, “family-Tom” was a larger-than-life character who would apologize to his dog, Duke if he thought he’d done the dog wrong, exchange “snot” cards with step-daughter Miranda, and surprise his “princess bride” with trips that she would win because she was “cuddly.” He would finish the announcement of a surprise trip with “Any questions, please contact the undersigned: love Tom.” He might have been a “guy’s guy” on the rigs, but at home he babbled in baby talk to his beloved animals. Tom loved his Harleys, but the nononsense biker also became a competitive motorhome driver, scoffing at semis as he pulled ahead of them on inclines and gloating as he won the race to the top of the hill because he had a 400 Cummins. (He said it every time!!). He fell in love with Arizona and it was the only place in the world where he’d wear shorts, sleeveless tees and sandals, or as he called them, “Jesus Boots”; anywhere else it was black shirts, jeans, and boots, even on +30 days. Tom was an expert at complaining about what he called “dog and pony” shows, and when he called something “fair to middlin’” people knew it was a great compliment. He was the big brother of his family, and his brother, Al was his best friend, right next to Duke. He was stubborn, and pigheaded, but a King to those who loved him. Generous, funny, loyal, a stickler for honesty, and an honourable man, Tom’s death leaves a Tom shaped hole in the lives of everyone who loved him. Tom was predeceased by his beloved mom, Judi, but be leaves behind to mourn his absence and celebrate his life, his wife, Marlene, his step daughter, Miranda, his dad, Ray, his brother, Al (Shannon), and his sisters, Jo-Anne (Ross) and Becky (Dwayne); as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews, a great nephew, and several great nieces. If Tom could add to this obituary, his iconic immortal words would be “DILLIGAF”. We love you Tom. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to STARS Air Ambulance at www.stars.ca. A Celebration of Tom’s Life was held on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at the family home.

• Date : 2018-03-08
• Location : Red Deer