Zaidee Mildred Watson Brittain

Memorial services for Zaidee Mildred Watson Brittain, 86, of Hudson will be held Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Harmony Hill Baptist Church with Dr. John W. Greene and Angier Peavy officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Carroway Funeral Home.

Zaidee passed from this life Tuesday, September 4, 2012, at Wesley Woods Alzheimer's Care Center in Waco.

She was born to the late Hilliard and Mildred (Holliday) Watson on June 21, 1926, in Ballinger, Texas. Zaidee graduated from Lufkin High School in 1943. She earned her bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Sam Houston State University, where she was a lead vocalist in the All-Girl Orchestra. She later completed a master's degree in Education from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Zaidee married Lufkin cattleman Otto Jordan Brittain on Easter Sunday in 1950. The couple raised three sons on their ranch in Hudson. Zaidee was a teacher in the Hudson Independent School District for 29 years, and also took on the job of a cattle rancher's wife, keeping the books, and keeping the ranch hands well fed.

Upon her retirement from teaching in 1989, Zaidee joined Otto on the Heart J Ranch in Roswell, New Mexico, where they ranched and danced until his retirement in 1996, when they returned to live in Hudson.

Zaidee loved her family, friends, music, teaching, and life in general. She saw each day as a new adventure and embraced it with an infectious optimism.

Zaidee is survived by Otto, her husband of 62 years; their three sons and daughters-in-law, Joseph Keith Brittain and wife Pat of Waco, Texas, Hilliard Kim Brittain and wife Janie of Garland, Texas, and Otto Jordan (Jay) Brittain, Jr. and wife Diana of Austin, Texas; grandchildren, Kerri McWilliams and husband Scott of Magnolia, Texas, Laura Brittain of Santa Barbara, California, Allen and Joe Brittain of Dallas, and Jordan Brittain of Austin; one great-grandchild, Olivia McWilliams; sister and brother-in-law, Zyla and Dick Deane of Denver, Colorado; and numerous other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, East Texas Regional Office, 304 North Raguet Street, Lufkin, Texas 75904.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.