Eric “Opie” Watt, a former Farragut resident, has died at his home in Edmond, Oklahoma. He was 58. He was the son of Bob and Betty Watt. Farragut’s annual fishing rodeo is named for Bob Watt.
Eric Watt enlisted in the U.S. Air Force shortly after graduating from high school and spent the next 22 years traveling the world as a flight engineer. He and wife Sonya married in 1990 and raised two boys, Jacob and Jackson, who have since followed their dad into military service. The Crawford funeral home of Edmond handled arrangements. The full obituary is here.
Bob Watt with his seven grandchildren in a photo provided by Betty Watt.
Bob Watt, who died in 2014, at age 76, served on the town’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen from 1993-97. As an early member of the town’s Parks and Recreation committee, he was instrumental in the town’s purchase of the property that became Anchor Park in 1984. It was Farragut’s first park and became home to the youth fishing rodeo.
The 2022 fishing tournament was staged in two flights, limited to 50 kids and their families in each session. The event was scaled back because of Covid. Participants had to bring their own equipment, but worms were provided.
After Bob’s death, Betty Watt moved to Cleveland, Tennessee, to be close to family.
