Malcolm Yonge Watson

Malcolm Yonge Watson, 1941-2021

On February 28, 2021, our father and grandfather, M. Yonge Watson, earned his final reward and left a life of service to his church, his family, his business, his community, and friends that he loved to join others in his life that preceded him to the hereafter.  He was born into a prominent old Pensacola and Northwest Florida family with roots from England and Ireland and was a Christian, first for 70 years as a Roman Catholic which was the religion of his grandmothers and later and Episcopalian, the religion of his wife and grandfathers Watson and Yonge.  He served Mass as a young man at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Pensacola and later at St. Simons on the Sound Church in Fort Walton Beach he served as an usher. 

He loved his family and extended connections and adored his wife, Christine Claiborne Watson for over 45 years.  He is proceeded in death by his daughter, Chandler Watson but survived by his wife, Christine, brothers, Tom and Jack, sister, Lucie, daughter, Tine, and three beautiful grand boys, John David, Christian Cole, and Ashton Yonge. 

He was a successful banker, real estate investor, Ace Hardware dealer and finally a condominium manager before he retired from the business world.  He served his community early on as a founder and active participant in the restoration of the Seville Square and Gulf Islands Seashore in Pensacola.  Later moving to Fort Walton Beach, he was an active member and officer of Rotary for 39 years, Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce member and officer, President of United Way, Krewe of Bowlegs, Fort Walton Beach Yacht Club and other civic organizations. 

Yonge loved history and enjoyed the local beaches and Gulf waters, swimming and sailing as well as traveling with his wife and friends whenever possible.  A celebration of life will be held at Fort Walton Yacht Club at 3:30pm on Saturday, March 6, 2021.   Please remember Yonge Watson with donations to P.A.W.S. animal shelter of Fort Walton or Hospice Covenant Care of Fort Walton Beach.  A private service with his cremains scattered in his favorite Gulf of Mexico off Destin will be observed at a later date for close family and friends.