BURLINGTON - Longtime Spaulding educator, Jean Watson, died on Saturday, after an extended struggle with Alzheimer's. She had just celebrated her 87th birthday.Born the eldest of three daughters to John and Mae Watson, she grew up in South Barre and lived there most of her adult life. She received her bachelor's and masters degrees from the University of Vermont.Jean's passion was literature. She taught in the English Department at Spaulding High for forty three years, where she especially enjoyed instructing creative writing and American literature. She was the faculty advisor for Spaulding's yearbook, the Echo, the school's fine arts magazine Kaleidoscope, and the National Honor Society. Jean pursued graduate-level training throughout her career and was the frequent recipient of grants which enhanced her teaching skills.Jean was preceded in death by her parents and her youngest sister Lois. She is survived by her sister Frances Werner (Tucson, Ariz.), three nieces, Susan Werner, Laura Smith and Anne Bosworth, three nephews, William and John Werner and David Bosworth and their families.Memorial contributions may be made to the Aldrich Public Library, 6 Washington St., Barre, VT 05641 or the ;(function() { var adKeyValue = 't='; adKeyValue+= escape('clio=ALZ'); adKeyValue += escape('&cobrand=timesargus'); adKeyValue += escape('&linktext=Alzheimer\'s Association'); adKeyValue += escape('&linkurl=https://act.alz.org/site/Donation2?df_id=5080&5080.donation=form1&set.TributeType=MEMORIAL&set.custom.honoree_name=Jean Watson&set.TributeMessage=A+gift+has+been+made+in+remembrance+of+Jean Watson'); adKeyValue += escape('&fn=Jean'); adKeyValue += escape('&ln=Watson'); var adClkUrl = 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?iu=/423686928/prod/obit-aff/obit-standard/clio-inline-1&' + adKeyValue + '&sz=1x1&c=1828772334'; var adImpUrl = 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ad?iu=/423686928/prod/obit-aff/obit-standard/clio-inline-1&' + adKeyValue + '&sz=1x1&c=1828772334'; document.write("<a href='" + adClkUrl + "' target=_blank>Alzheimer\'s Association<" + 'img' + " src='" + adImpUrl + "' style='width=1px; height=1px; display:inline;' /></a>"); }()); of America, 225 N. Michigan Ave., FL 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633.The family plans a service in the fall to honor Jean's life.