Patricia Jan Foster Watson, affectionately known as Pat, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2025, at the age of 75, surrounded by her loving family. Born on May 28, 1949, in Dallas, Texas, Pat was the daughter of the late Wanza Gallender Foster Jackson and Sidney Wayne Foster. A proud graduate of Sam Houston High School in Arlington, Texas, class of 1967. Pat married a high school classmate, Lynn Watson in 1968. Pat and Lynn welcomed two daughters into the world, Danissa Lynn (born in 1969) and Wendy Gayle (born in 1976). Unwavering love for family was the foundation of Pat’s life, instilling lessons in determination and perseverance. Pat pursued a career in cosmetology, a field she was passionate about throughout her life. Alongside her work as a stylist, Pat developed an insatiable love for reading and teaching. After her daughters were older, she returned to college at the University of Texas at Arlington, earning a Bachelor’s in English and a teaching certification. She later went on to earn a Master’s in Reading from Texas Women’s University. For more than 25 years, Pat taught English in the Arlington Independent School District, with the majority of her career spent at her alma mater, Sam Houston High School. She also continued her dedication to education by teaching ESL to adults in the community, a role she held until her passing. Pat was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Sidney Wayne Foster Jr. and Steven Collins Foster. She is survived by her daughters, Danissa Jones and Wendy Watson (Cody Delmere); her sister, Nancy Gail Reeves (Lloyd); her brother, Jeffrey Jackson (Gina); and her beloved grandchildren, Kayla Morgan (Blake), Mason Jones (Thomas), Austin Mahan, Aubree Kuhns, and Macoy Jones. She also leaves behind three great-grandchildren, Ledger, Emory, and Emmalyn Morgan. Pat’s legacy extends far beyond her immediate family to a wide circle of friends, students, and extended family who were touched by her kindness, generosity, and vibrant spirit. Her presence and influence made a lasting impact on all who knew her. As William Shakespeare once wrote, “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts.” Pat played many roles in her lifetime—mother, Nonnie, sister, teacher, beautician, and friend—with grace and love. Her memory will continue to live on in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing her. A celebration of Pat’s life will be held on February 2, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the Arlington Elk’s Lodge (601 W. Pioneer Parkway). As per her wishes, guests are encouraged to wear colorful clothing, with red being her favorite. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Pat’s memory to the Sam Houston High School Alumni Association, where a scholarship will be established in her name. Donations can be made online at shhstexans.org (please type “Pat Watson” under the Additional Information section) or mailed to: SHHS Alumni Association PO Box 152742 Arlington, TX 76015 Pat’s daughters would like to express their deepest gratitude for the love and support they’ve received during this difficult time. She will be deeply missed, but her memory will live on in the hearts of all who loved her.

Foster Beautiful, Meaningful Dispositions for Your Families with Better Place Forests

Imagine standing alongside a family as they celebrate a loved one’s life not within the walls of a chapel or church, but amid a wide open, lush landscape, in the shadow of majestic trees, a fresh, gentle breeze wafting through the air. Members of this family will return to this permanent, protected, and preserved place for generations to picnic, pay homage, or perhaps even to hold a similar ceremony for another loved one, and they’ll inevitably and gratefully remember how you and your team made this experience possible for them — all because you partnered with Better Place Forests.

“A partnership between Better Place Forests and our local funeral homes helps us both serve families who go to a funeral home to learn about options for cremated remains,” explains Tori Nonnemacher, General Manager at the St. Croix Valley Memorial Forest in Minnesota, one of nine Better Place Forests located throughout the United States. “We want to provide resources and be part of the conversation you’re having with families. We believe that when we’re connected with funeral homes in our communities that everyone involved benefits.”

Much more than scattering

It’s actually quite easy to share placement within a Better Place Forest with families once you learn about the benefits and just how beautiful the experience can be. To put it simply, Better Place Forests facilitates the disposition of cremated remains at dedicated, designated spots within protected acreage of established forests. The remains are integrated into the local soil, placed at the base of a tree the family has selected, and covered. The Better Place Forests team places a custom inscribed bronze Memorial Marker at the tree.

However, while the process is fairly straightforward, the Better Place Forest team has transformed it into a meaningful “Forest Memorial” ceremony in which the family can fully participate if they choose to do so. Memorial guests are invited to participate in combining the cremains with the soil, then placing and covering the mixture at the site. 

“It’s a beautiful memorial ceremony, and can be a healing ritual for people to move through that process together,” explains Nonnemacher.  “Everyone’s together, placing their loved one in this space at the base of the tree. And you’re surrounded by this beautiful forest, which is just incredible.”

Permanent and protected memorialization

The tree at which families are placing the remains of their loved one is also special in itself, as it belongs to the family in perpetuity — which means they will also have access to the property for generations.

“You can come out for visits and bring your grandkids, kids, pets, or friends — anyone you want,” shares Nonnemacher. ‘You have this opportunity to create memories with your loved ones, whether it’s picnics, hikes, or time at your tree. So when someone passes, maybe your loved ones will remember when grandma brought them out and had a picnic by the lake, or sat at the tree for a while and read a poem. It’s creating these moments for everyone in an environment where, especially for children, death is not scary.”

The acreage within the Better Place Forests properties is not only protected for the families, but it is also ecologically conserved. Every effort is made to keep the forest in its natural, original state. 

“Our goal is to keep the forest as close as possible to its natural state,” Nonnemacher explains. “If a tree comes down, it stays where it lands and becomes a nurse log, and feeds the forest floor its nutrients over time.”

A true family tree

When a family purchases a tree for one spreading, they always have the option to buy spreading rights at a reduced cost for others, whether that’s a spouse, descendants, or even pets. Families may also add a completely customizable Memorial Marker that will include their tree number so it will always be connected to that spot.

Currently, Better Place Forests’s nine breathtaking properties are located in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota, Arizona, and California — and families are not limited to selecting a spot based on their proximity to a location. In fact, some choose properties that became special destinations for hiking vacations or other events.

However, Better Place is always exploring new opportunities for expansion and partnerships to provide access to more and more families — and that most certainly includes partnerships with funeral homes across the country.

“We hope to create relationships where we can refer Better Place Forests customers who are looking for additional services to our funeral home partners,” says Nonnemacher. “Families will know we have a relationship with the funeral home; that we are recommending partners we deeply trust. We’re going to send families to them because our goal is to offer options that work for everyone. To be part of the conversation when someone is looking for a nature-based option.”

If you’re interested in becoming a partner of Better Place Forests, or just want to learn more, reach out to Jess Wakefield at jessica.wakefield@betterplaceforests.com or visit betterplaceforests.com.