Roll Call Tribute

Johnny Watts, Jr. 

May 15, 1936 - January 10, 2025 

Johnny "JT" Watts Jr, 88, passed away Friday, January 10, 2025 at his home in Blackfoot, Idaho. JT was born in Abilene, Texas on May 15, 1936, the son of JT Watts Sr. and Banie Juanita Maxwell Watts.

JT grew up in Texas and attended schools in the Wylie school district. He played football in high school and graduated from Wylie High School. He continued his education at Abilene Christian University, and Texas A&M University, where he earned his bachelors of science. He then earned his masters at Brigham Young University in special education. Continuing education classes were taken through Idaho State University and Washington State University.

JT and Andrea Jean Horning were married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1968. They were blessed with 5 children. On February 10, 1996, JT married Anne Swenson Blanchard in Blackfoot, Idaho. They were later sealed in the Nauvoo LDS Temple on July 5, 2006.

JT worked as a special education teacher in the Snake River school district for over 43 years. A career he loved and was proud of. Many families have been blessed by his kind and compassionate skill of building self worth in many of his students. Before moving to Idaho, he had been a county extension agent working along the border in Texas. In his younger years, he was a dairy farmer with his father and was a cattle buyer for a meat packing plant.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, JT served as a Home Teacher, Sunday School Teacher and in the Bishopric.

JT had many hobbies he enjoyed, all things fitness, in-line skating, riding bicycles, mountain climbing and rock collecting to name a few. He loved driving fast in his Corvettes or any vehicle he had. He also loved his John Deere tractors and his black GMC truck. He was a member of the Sirloin and Saddle Club and participated in meat judging contests and was a high point individual in the intercollegiate meat judging contests. He was a member of the FFA.

In his later years, he was well-known for his photo albums and endless stories about his many adventures.

JT is survived by his wife, Anne Watts of Blackfoot; his children Shane (Amy) Watts of Woodinville WA, Yara (Chad) Bingham of Logan UT, Taunacy Horton of Smithfield UT, Shiann Hottop of Chicago IL and Moriah Nibley of Salt Lake City UT; his stepchildren Jennifer Blanchard of Malad ID, Krystal (Wayne) Madsen of Robin ID, Jody (Eldon) Owens of Robin ID, Jason (Jessica) Blanchard of Caldwell ID, Wendy (Chelsea) Blanchard of Pocatello ID and Shane (Lisa) Blanchard of Claremore OK; his brother Denny Watts of Texas; 32 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Andrea Jean Watts, grandson Brenden Nibley and granddaughter Addyson Horton.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, January 17, 2025 at the Blackfoot West Stake Center. The family will meet with friends from 6-8:00 p.m. Thursday, January 16, 2025 at the Hawker Funeral Home, and again for one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow in the Riverside-Thomas Cemetery.