Stephen was born the first child of Eva Watson, née Sawdon, and Alan Watson in the coastal fishing town of Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, UK. He had a sister who died in infancy, so was, for all intents, his parents' only child. He lived and went to primary school in the village of Hunmanby, near Filey, East Yorks and continued his education at Bridlington Grammar School. His primary education taught him a fine Copperplate writing style which never left him. As a child he loved his model railway, with a fold down layout skilfully made by his father, that took pride of place in the family's sitting room. He also loved their dog, Vicky, who was a joyful companion for his childhood years.

Always artistic, Stephen went to Leeds University to study Art and Textile Design, gaining a B.A.Hons in 1974. At a time of decline in the Yorkshire Textile industry Stephen found little satisfying work in his field and went on to work for Honeywell Computers, living in the South of England.

Stephen's father died suddenly in 1980, aged 54. His mother eventually married again, to Stanley Teate, an American, and moved with him to Redington Shores in Florida. Stephen stayed with Honeywell as an accountant and analyst, and bought a house in Bristol. Unsatisfied in his work he decided to follow his mother to the USA. He sold his house and moved in with his cousin Elaine whilst continuing to work for Honeywell and waiting for US visa formalities that would enable him to live and work in the USA. After some years in limbo he was finally able to move to Florida in 1999.

Once in the US he worked for the Home Shopping Network, Dank Office Imaging and eventually Cisco Systems, for whom he worked from 2006-2015; until increasingly poor health made working very difficult.

Stephen lived in Clearwater and St Petersburg. After his mother's passing in 2017, he moved to the Condo in which she had lived with Stanley, who died in 2001.

Stephen always loved classical music. A visit to his home showed this clearly with his extensive CD collection and top of the range HiFi systems. He was also a practising Christian, latterly finding a spiritual home at the Christ The King Lutheran Church in Largo.

A rather quiet man, Stephen had few significant relationships outside of his family. He was well liked in the condo community where he latterly lived. Apart from his love of music, Stephen's artistic ability was demonstrated through his photography, examples of which would stand up to the best.

His mother's dear friend Carl LaRiccia, and his family, were important supports in the period after the death of Stephen's mother and during his own declining health. Stephen had always had a close relationship with his mother's sister, "Aunty Betty". This bond was strengthened and maintained through their frequent long phone calls, particularly latterly.

Stephen had worked hard to control his diabetes for many years, holding kidney failure at bay via strict management of his diet. Unfortunately, in the period of grief for his mother and change of residence he developed an infection in his left foot that proved difficult to control and eventually turned to gangrene. This infection appeared 5 days before he was due to fly to the UK to visit family and friends. The infection eventually necessitated an amputation of all the toes on his left foot and a began a 4 month cycle of moving back and forth between hospitals and rehabilitation during which he suffered complete kidney failure, numerous infections, and a small stroke. In the end his body gave up and he died in transition between the care of Largo Medical Centre and SunCoast Hospice.

Stephen was visited by his UK cousins Eric and Trisha in the weeks before his passing, and also his Pastor. Carl LaRiccia was his most loyal and frequent visitor and support over these weeks. Stephen will be sadly missed by his UK family and friends in the US and UK.

Services: 11:00 AM; March 20, 2020 at the LW Mohn Funeral Home