James B. Watson

James B. Watson (b. 1949), a well-known Gaelic tradition bearer and singer left this world in the early hours of November 26, 2018 for the nether world. He will be joining his beloved parents, Anna Olsen Watson and James Watson; his younger brother, Karley; and a chorus of Gaelic tradition bearers that have gone before him. He is (there is no evidence to support that he will give up, despite his demise) a cultural and political advocate for Gaelic Nova Scotia, recognized in 2016 by Bord Na Gaidhlig’s Scottish Gaelic Award for Best Contribution. For over thirty years, as Manager of Interpretation at the Nova Scotia Highland Village Museum, he worked diligently and strategically to fulfil the museums local, national and international mandate, speaking at conferences at home and abroad and communicating through publication the phenomena of Gaelic renewal in Nova Scotia. James, or Seumas, as he was also known, gave the gift of Gaelic and his enduring love to all of his children, Angus, Lili, Anna (Christian) and Colin (Andrea) who will live in the warmth of his memory. His grandchildren, Rayden Watson (Anna & Christian) and James Michael Angus Watson (Colin & Andrea) have lost a formidable grandfather. Seumas leaves behind his wife (‘his girl’), Marlene Ivey with whom he shared a deep love and his life’s work. He is survived also by his stepmother, Olevia Watson and stepsisters, Betsy Graves (Sam), their daughter Haley, and Anne MacFarland (Alwyn) of Maine, USA. Seumas will be sorely missed by his brothers in Gaelic, Dr. John Shaw (Jill) and Dr. Robert Dunbar (Christine) both of Edinburgh, Scotland; all of those dedicated individuals to whom he was a mentor in many different ways; and his Queensville neighbors. The family would like to express gratitude for the loving and professional care Seumas received at the hands of the nurses and doctors of St. Martha’s Hospital, Antigonish, the VON, and the Palliative Care Team working out of the Strait Regional Hospital/Port Hawkesbury and Halifax. There will be a memorial celebration for Seumas to take place at the Highland Village Iona, the date in December to be announced. Nàisean nan Gàidheal !