John Baxter Watts Jr.

Son of John B. Watts, Sr. and Virginia Pearl Farris, John grew up in several areas of North Carolina, most notably Goldsboro and Raleigh. He graduated from Goldsboro High School and later earned a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia. John also proudly served as Navigator aboard the USS Northampton in the US Navy.

John met his first wife, Jayne Carol Lavey (Westfield NJ), through a mutual friend and shipmate. After a year of courtship, he proposed during her post-Christmas visit to NC. Jayne introduced him to Johns-Manville, where he later began a research career. Married on September 3rd, 1966, the couple had one son, John Thomas “Tom” Watts. The family moved about the country as John progressed through various roles, living in such places as Littleton CO, Raleigh NC, Tallahassee FL, again Westfield NJ, and finally Hudson OH.

Following divorce in 1982, John relocated to the San Francisco Bay area where he embarked on the next chapter of his life. Not long after his arrival at the West Coast, he met Joan Kathryn Casey, eventually marrying her on June 17th, 1990 in Sausalito, CA. The two formed a lasting bond, effects of which persisted for him after Joan’s passing in 2016. She will forever be John’s “princess and kayak goddess!”

Shortly after their wedding, John accepted a position with Christensen Engineering, prompting the couple’s move to Bellingham, WA. His new role involved significant pipeline and refining interests in Alaska, reflecting his continued commitment to engineering excellence.

John and Joan were passionate about the outdoors, and became long-term members of the Sierra Club and the Bellingham Mountaineers. Together, they enjoyed camping and hiking, frequently exploring the North Cascades and other beautiful areas. Their love for nature also extended to their getaway cabin near Winthrop, WA, where they spent meaningful time immersed in outdoor tranquility.

The couple were strong advocates for park and wilderness conservation, dedicating their efforts to preserving these treasured landscapes. Beyond their commitment to environmental stewardship, John and Joan cherished traveling abroad, with Ireland and Scotland holding special places in their hearts.

Following his retirement as a Chemical Engineer, John continued his service to the community as a member of the Bellingham City Council (3rd Ward) from 1999 until 2007. He was appointed unanimously to the Council following the passing of Arne Hanna. Only months later, the Olympic Pipeline ruptured and exploded in a local park. The City Council immediately found itself embroiled in pipeline engineering & safety that demanded extensive technical review – applied to which, John’s career expertise proved invaluable.

John was also deeply committed to protecting the Lake Whatcom watershed, Bellingham’s primary drinking water source, and was instrumental in passing the Silver Beach Ordinance to protect the watershed. Admired for his integrity and independence as a council member, a colleague once reflected about John that “One of his greatest accomplishments on the Council was always being true to his word. He never took a political vote; he voted his conscience every time and lived with the outcome. He governed like he never wanted to get reelected. It was an honor to serve with him all of those years.”

For a number of years, John maintained an online blog he called “Hamster-talk,” where he posted thoughtful analysis on a wide range of issues facing the community, as well as personal and political insights. All posts are still available to read at: https://bellinghamstertalk.blogspot.com/

Inspired by the Lord of the Rings trilogy, he reflected in 2007 on the US Constitution, posting: “Civilized society has long sought to find methods by which to protect itself against the extremes of tyranny and chaos . . . No substitute exists for the constant vigilance needed to recognize and repair any weaknesses that develop to ensure our Constitution maintains its protective strength as was intended.”

John will be remembered for his sharp intellect, quiet generosity, a near-permanent smile, and unwavering curiosity about the world and its people. His legacy lives on through his family, his public service, support for generational foundations, and the many lives he touched.

John Watts is survived by son Tom, nieces Kathryn "Kathy" Reese (Nashville TN), and Susan "Susie" Bowie (Columbus GA), and their combined four children: Jackson, Tyler, Alex, and Sam. John's younger sister, Mary Virginia (mother to Kathy & Susie), passed in February 2011. He maintained contact with several cousins in the St. Louis, Atlanta, and Charlotte areas. An avid genealogist, John compiled an extensive family tree on https://ancestry.com with roughly 175k connections dating back centuries.

A private memorial celebration commemorating the 1-year anniversary of his passing will be held in Bellingham. Details to be shared among close family and friends. Cremains provided by the Neptune Society will also be distributed across the USA at sites meaningful to John, including Montlawn Memorial Park (Raleigh NC) where his parents have been lain to rest.