HERMITAGE, TN/RIPLEY - Edward Lanier Watson, Jr., better known as Eddie or the Piano Man, passed away Thursday, September 14, 2023, at the Summit in Hermitage, TN. He was born October 11, 1955, to Edward Lanier Watson and Freddie Jean Smith Watson. He was a 1973 graduate of Ripley High School where he played baseball and football and was active in any activities involving music. He moved with his wife and kids to Nashville where he worked as a professional musician, playing the piano for 15 years for Billy Joe Royal, and later for several Elvis impersonators. His favorite venue was playing for the Tupelo Elvis Fest. He enjoyed fishing and watching classic TV shows and sports, mainly college football and the Chicago Cubs. He loved his dog Dolly and visiting his grand animals, Dallas, Bruce, Nikki, and Shirley.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, September 18, at the Ripley Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Amanda Diamond officiating. Burial will be in the Brewer Family Cemetery near Tremont. McNeece-Morris Funeral Home of Fulton is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include his son, Lane Watson of Hermitage, TN; his daughter, Mary Watson of Hartsville, TN; his brother, Stan Watson (Melinda) of Southaven; his sister, Carmen Hubbard (Marty) of Ripley; and his stepmother, Audrey Langston Watson of Ripley.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 34 years, Teressa Jo Brewer Watson, on June 6, 2021; his father, Edward Lanier Watson, Sr.; and his mother, Freddie Jean Smith Barker.

Pallbearers will be Josh Hubbard, Colt Hubbard, Marty Hubbard, Corey Farrar, Ben Hollis, and Gary Dunnam.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dylan Carnell, Dylan Jackson, and Rámon Angel.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Monday, September 18, at the Ripley Funeral Home, 1011 City Avenue North, Ripley, MS  38663.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Instruments for Education, www.instrumentsforeducation.org , or to your local humane society.