Eleanor "Liz" Tallent Watts
NEW BERN, NC- Carolina Pines Community
On the evening of July 1, 2022, Eleanor “Liz” Tallent Watts passed peacefully on to her Heavenly reward following a prolonged illness.
Born in Philadelphia on September 9, 1937, Liz was raised by her grandparents William and Frances Tallent of Baltimore following the early death of her parents.
Upon graduation from the Catholic High School in 1955, she enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps where she served three years in sunny southern California. There she met and fell in love with fellow Marine Jack Watts. They married after an eighteen-month courtship and remained bonded as one for sixty-three years.
She enjoyed the occasional relocation necessitated by her husband’s thirty-year military career. It was always a chance for her to see new places and make new friends. She especially enjoyed her seven years in beautiful Hawaii.
Liz remained a stay-at-home mom until her children reached their teen-age years, nurturing their development into honorable self-reliant adults.
Liz was very civic minded and performed duties as an American Red Cross Volunteer worker, a scout leader and a softball coach. In past years with her church, she was a Christian youth instructor, choir director, lector and eucharistic minister. As a Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary life member, she was especially honored whenever asked to sing the National Anthem at Independence Day ceremonies.
At the age of forty-four she re-entered the Federal work force and completed a twenty-year career with MWR/MCX, MCAS Cherry Point, N.C. While working full time and attending to the needs of her family she found time to attend college and attain an associate business degree.
Liz had a passion for acting. For many years she acted in and helped produce many plays with The Cherry Point Players, New Bern Civic Theater and Rivertown Players. There acquiring many long-lasting friendships.
She enjoyed photography as a hobby over the years complied and cataloged an extensive picture history of all family members including her grandparents and her great-great grandson. These volumes to be enjoyed and cherished by future generations of the matriarch supreme.
Liz greeted all whom she met with a kind word and a smile. She was respected and loved by all who knew her. She never met a stranger. She was a good citizen, a Marine, a wife and a mother to be emulated by many.
She is survived by husband Jack Watts; children, Kathleen Watts, Deborah Thompson, Terrilyn Watts, and Jon Watts; grandchildren, Scott Porter, Jason Porter, Erin Toler, and Kristine Porter; great grandchildren, Kayla Porter, Ion Porter, Michael Wooley, Christian Shelton, Alexis Toler, J.J. Porter, Bailey Porter, Damon Ayers and Kali Ayers; and great-great grandson Walker Wooley.
A special note of thanks goes out to all the kind and professional workers at CEMC Cancer Center and to those of Craven County Hospice.
A remembrance and celebration of Liz’s life will be held at a later date to be announced.
