Erwin Kay Watson's Obituary
Erwin Kay Watson
March 21, 1942 – April 3, 2026
Erwin Kay Watson, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather passed away peacefully on Friday, April 3, 2026, in Provo, UT. Kay’s life was defined by a devotion to family, honoring God’s creations through his artwork, and his love of Jesus Christ.
Kay was born to Castle James Watson and Thelma Fern Anderson on March 21, 1942, in Salt Lake City, UT as the eight of nine children. He was raised near Sugarhouse in a loving home alongside six siblings who shaped his early years with shared work, laughter, loving family bonds, and commitment to the gospel. He loved Sunday drives with his father and riding the bus around town with his mother to visit her at work or to run errands. Kay admired his older siblings for their patriotism, military service, entrepreneurship, and other hard work. His silly and cheerful disposition helped him and others to be positive through sometimes challenging times.
Kay graduated from Highland High School in 1960 where he began to develop his lifelong passion and divine gift as an artist. He won several awards in recognition of his talent. He served full-time in the Northwestern States Mission from 1961-1963. His love for his missionary service was evident from the funny stories he later shared with his children. He served in the National Guard from November 1960 to November 1966 and graduated from Brigham Young University in May 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art. Kay spent his career sharing the gospel as a Commercial Artist at the LDS Church Office Building in downtown Salt Lake City where he spent 33 years supporting church magazines (The Ensign, Friend, New Era, and Liahona) and manuals. One of his final projects was helping to produce the Teachings of the Living Prophets manual series used by church members worldwide during Priesthood and Relief Society in the late nineties and early 2000’s. He worked hard to provide for his family and to serve in the church.
Kay met his wife, Sharilyn Gladys Shurtleff, during a weekend military assignment in northern California, where he attended a young-adult dance with a friend. They were married on December 28, 1965, in the Oakland California Temple, beginning a partnership marked by loyalty and commitment. Kay loved to be with Sharilyn and appreciated her service to him and the family. Together they established a loving home and welcomed seven children. They built a happy family despite life’s challenges. Dad loved to spend time with the children by baking cookies, playing in the yard, going for bike rides, listening to good music, and going out for treats. He built an addition onto the family home so that mom had a garage to park the cars and dad had a nice art studio in which to paint.
Kay’s dream was to be a landscape painter, and he spent all the evenings and Saturdays he could painting. He frequently took his children to rural areas in Utah County where he could set up his easel and paint while the kids played outside and had a good time. His artistic works are unknowingly most observed by faithful patrons of LDS temples throughout the world where his paintings are displayed in Germany, Mexico, Canada, and the United States, including in the Salt Lake Temple, the Nauvoo Temple, and the Mt. Timpanogos Temple.
Kay’s life was marked by his love for the gospel. He loved the doctrine of Jesus Christ, as evident by the worn pages of his tattered brown leather scriptures where he spent many hours studying. He and Sharilyn actively taught the gospel at home through family scripture study, prayer, and home evening. Kay commonly shared new scriptural insights with his children, enthusiastically describing how the Holy Ghost had influenced him regarding a new doctrinal discovery. His greatest desire was to be “born again” and he studied this topic often. He demonstrated his love for the Savior through his profession and in the church. He served as a counselor in a young married ward bishopric soon after Kay and Sharilyn were married. As a father of five small children, he served as a high counselor in the Provo, Utah Stake and Bishop of the Provo 11th Ward near West Center Street in Provo. He served on the High Counsel in the Grandview Stake and later as a counselor and Branch President in several branch presidencies at the Missionary Training Center. He loved spending time with the missionaries and included his children in his service whenever possible. He was a committed home teacher and minister throughout his life and enjoyed serving as a Ward Greeter at sacrament meetings in his later years. Kay loved to serve in the temple, including as a temple worker, when his health permitted.
Those who knew Kay will remember his gentle nature, quiet humor, and his love for quality time with Sharilyn, his children, and grandchildren. He ministered to them with love and compassion during delicate times of their lives.
Kay is preceded in death by his parents and siblings; Castle Ross, Glen (infant), Merrit Galen, Thelma Nona, Milton Bennon, Maralyn Beverly, Max Brent, his infant brother who passed shortly after birth, and his granddaughter, Chelsea Nicole Ramos.
He is succeeded by his wife Sharilyn; his children Melanie (Troy) Berrett, Camille (Charles) Paxton, Tiffanie Watson Weekes, Hollie (Brigham) Russell, Aaron (Haley) Watson, Brian (Skye) Watson, and Heather (Jonathan) Ishoy; 25 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. He found his greatest happiness in supporting their growth, celebrating their accomplishments, and offering steady encouragement that shaped each of their lives. He leaves behind a family who loves him deeply and carries forward his legacy of kindness, devotion, and faith.
Funeral services will be 11:00 am, Friday, April 10, 2026 at the Grandview 3rd Ward Chapel, 900 West 2150 North, Provo, Utah where a viewing will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Thursday, April 9, 2026 and Friday prior to services from 9:30 am to 10:45 am. Interment and graveside services will be 3:00 pm, Friday at the Ogden City Cemetery, 1875 Monroe Blvd, Ogden, UT.
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