John B. (Jack) Watson Jr. of Columbiana, Ala. and formerly of Cranford, N.J. died on February 15 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 84.

He was born in Newark, N,J, and his family moved to Cranford in 1946. He lived there for most of his life until moving to Mobile, Ala. in 2015 with his wife Ellana to be closer to their son Douglas and his family. He relocated to the Birmingham area in 2017.

He graduated from Cranford High School in 1957 and then from Rutgers University School of Pharmacy in 1962. After graduating and receiving his pharmacist license, he worked at several local pharmacies before becoming director of pharmacy at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Elizabeth, N.J. In 1999, he retired from the hospital after 30 years of service.

Jack was a kind, funny and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He loved riding the train into New York City and giving directions to anywhere in “only two turns.” He and his family were active members at Osceola Presbyterian Church in Clark, N.J.

Most of all, he enjoyed his summer vacations in Oak Bluffs for almost 70 years. After being introduced to Martha’s Vineyard as 12 year-old boy, he and his family rented houses each summer in the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association until purchasing their own cottage on Rural Circle in 1970. He made lifelong friends there and enjoyed walking, reading, sitting on the beach and waving to passersby from the porch while drinking his coffee and enjoying his apple fritter.

No matter where he was, he was always sharing a smile and making people laugh with his quick wit and dry sense of humor. He was beloved by his family and friends and will be greatly missed.

Jack was predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Ellana L. Watson; his sister, Elizabeth Watson Dennis; father, John B. Watson Sr.; and his mother, Bessie B. Watson.

He is survived by his daughter, Heather and her husband Michael Steel, his son Douglas and his wife Collene, nephew Kevin Gallagher, niece Karin Critelli and her husband Thomas, and his grandchildren Addison and Thea Watson and Elizabeth and Mitchell Critelli.

He will be interred in Oak Grove Cemetery in Oak Bluffs. A celebration of life will be planned over the summer.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association in Oak Bluffs or to Osceola Presbyterian Church in Clark, N.J.