Tina M. Watson

Tina M. Watson, 53, of Moline, Illinois, died Thursday, January 19, 2023, at home as a result of a decades-long battle with depression and anxiety. Her daughters, Ellie and Carrie, wish to assure family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors that Tina was always trying her absolute best to get better. They know she would take this back if she could.

Services to honor Tina’s life will be held Friday, January 27, at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline, beginning with visitation from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. A memorial service will begin at 5:00 p.m., immediately followed by a hospitality gathering from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at CityView Celebrations (lower level of Trimble Pointe). Memorials may be made to the family for a fund to be established in Tina’s memory.

Tina Marie Watson was born August 29, 1969, in Moline, Illinois to Jon and Carolynn (Olson) Watson. She graduated from Rock Island High School in 1987 and went on to study at Western Illinois University in Macomb.

Tina was employed at DHL Global Forwarding for 24 years, serving in various managerial and leadership positions. She found much professional satisfaction in her years at DHL, but the stand-out experience of her tenure was a lengthy stint working in Germany where she met some of her dearest friends.

Tina enjoyed meeting new people and learning about their lives. She was known to start conversations with strangers and make connections that resulted in enduring friendships. She was often referred to as “Talking Tina” (a play on Chatty Cathy) by her daughters. Tina was genuine when she spoke to people. She was curious and loved hearing new perspectives. She made everyone feel as if they were special and important to her because they were. She treated anyone who was close to her girls with love, warmth, and acceptance, almost like they were another one of her kids. This especially extended to her much loved son-in-law, Kevin, who was simply her son. Tina was a light. She brought joy, laughter, and comfort to so many people, which makes her sudden death even more heartbreaking and incomprehensible.

Tina spent as much time as she could with her daughters and Kevin. Most recently she took on a new role as Granny to Margot Carolynn, who was born to Ellie and Kevin in November 2022. Margot was a lucky little girl to see her Granny fifty-four out of fifty-seven days in the short time their lives overlapped. Tina said that Margot was like a magnet; she was drawn to her and wanted to be with her to help and cuddle and love on her as much as she could. Ellie and Kevin appreciated the help tremendously and made sure Tina knew it. Tina was so proud of Ellie, Carrie, and Kevin for all that they accomplished, big and small.

Tina made any boring, dreaded task fun, and was used to finding creative solutions and thinking outside of the box both professionally and in her family life. She knew exactly how to tackle complicated, overwhelming projects to make them manageable and prided herself on her process improvement and efficiency. She was always trying to make her girls laugh and wasn’t afraid to be a goofball. When she and her girls were bored over the years, she often asked if they wanted to have a dance-off, which Ellie and Carrie lovingly rolled their eyes at and, regrettably, never took her up on. Even while in the midst of her darkest moments and struggles with her mental health over the years, she handled herself with grace and assured her girls that everything was going to be okay. She always said everything would work out in the end because how could it not? She did everything she could to be strong and was undeniably the rock of her family.

She was a faithful volunteer for the Rock Island County Democrats, participating in parades, phone banking, and door knocking to support candidates she believed in. She also belonged to the Quad-Cities Women’s Outdoor Club, where she enjoyed spending time with fellow nature lovers by taking trips, kayaking, and hiking. She loved playing golf like her beloved dad, Jon, and tennis with her kids. She loved to travel and planned to see so much more of the world. She adored her houseplants and had a green thumb. Tina and Ellie would spend hours walking around garden stores dreaming about what they wanted their yards to look like someday, and bought so many trees, bushes, and plants together.

Tina is survived by her two beloved daughters and a son-in-law, Elizabeth (Kevin Martin) LaBotte and Carolynn LaBotte, both of Rock Island; granddaughter Margot Martin-LaBotte who was the apple of her eye; siblings, DeAnna Johnson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Joshua (Nicole Leyendecker) Watson of Moline; her step-mother, Cindi Cox of East Moline; aunts and uncle, Elizabeth Hasty, Steve and Ann Watson; many adored nieces and nephews including Andrew Johnson and his children, Akeira and Braylen; many cousins, other treasured family members, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jon Watson and Carolynn Lindsay; her Grandpa and Granny, Rolland and Elizabeth Watson; Grandparents, Barney and Blanche Olson; aunts and uncles, Sandra and LeRoy Bruns, Kenneth Hasty, and Velma and John Ingraham; and her daughters’ Nana, Elizabeth “Scotty” LaBotte, who she loved like a mother.

Tina’s memory will be honored by ending the stigma and shame associated with depression, suicide, and addiction. Tina’s family encourages anyone struggling with her untimely death to seek the help of a trusted medical professional and to reach out and talk to someone. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat www.988lifeline.org.

The family invites friends to share stories and condolences at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.