FARMINGTON — Basil Eugene Watt, 79, of Farmington, died unexpectedly Thursday, June 2, at his home.

He was born in Easton, Jan. 26, 1932, a son of Basil Herman and Florence (McMullin) Watt and attended Madison schools, graduating in 1949.

He began his working career as an auto mechanic, working at Old Point Avenue Garage in Madison, Backus Garage in East Wilton, Horn Motors, and W. H. Hinman. He later worked at IP in Jay, retiring in 1994 after 27 1/2 years of service.

On June 6, 1953, he married Barbara MacDuff at the Henderson Memorial Baptist Church in Farmington. They lived over the years in Madison, East Wilton and Farmington, as well as Dundee and Zephyrhills, Fla.

Gene enjoyed fishing Maine lakes and rivers, gardening, traveling in Eastern Europe, England, Scotland and Canada, as well as throughout the United States.

He was a member of Maine Lodge No. 20 AF and AM of Farmington.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Barbara Watt of Farmington; his children, Beverly Condra of Nashville, Tenn., Deborah Thomas and her husband, James, of Huntersville, N.C., Marjorie Tyler and her husband, John, of Readfield, Janice Goodwin and her husband, Anthony, of Ellicott City, Md., and Steven Watt and his wife, Andrea, of the Czech Republic; seven grandchildren, Heather Hertenstein, Sarah Nichols and her husband, Scott, Matthew Thomas, Margaret Tyler, Jane Tyler, Benjamin Goodwin and Christopher Goodwin; five great-grandchildren, Grant, Lila, Sadie, Sadie and Bennett; siblings, Norval Watt and his wife, Sandra, of Madison, Vickie Rivera and her husband, Larry, of Winter Haven, Fla., and Elwyn Watt and his wife, Judith, of Madison; and many nieces and nephews.

Words of condolences may be shared on his memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.