WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. —  

Rita B. Watson, born Rita Ann Bottomley on October 5, 1939 (daughter of Oscar and Loretta Bottomley) grew up in the southern Indiana town of Mt. Vernon. She attended St. Matthew's Catholic school and graduated from Mt. Vernon High school in 1957. During her school years she developed her tailoring skills thanks to her mother and 4-H. In 1956, she was Posey County's Champion Orator and competed for district honors.

Rita went to Purdue University studying speech and theater where she was a member of the Purdue Players, Tomahawks, a national activities honorary, and senior year president of Theta Alpha Pi. After graduating in 1961, Rita headed to New York City working as a seamstress for a few years as well as working for St. Lawrence College Theater.

Thanks to Bob Boland, Jack and Rita met in a costume shop and soon after moved to Williamstown, MA. Jack and Rita were married in 1964 and moved into their Bulkley street home in 1966. In Williamstown, Rita designed and constructed costumes for numerous productions at Williams College Theater from 1962-1975. During the summers 1966-1995, Rita could be found at the costume shop of the Williamstown Theater Festival designing and creating decades of seasons. Also, she worked with Bennington College, Brunswick Summer Playhouse at Bowdin College (two summers), and the Christopher Ryder House.

Along with costume design for theater, Rita’s skills and talents were truly shown in the field of dance, beginning with the Albany Berkshire Ballet under Madelyn Culpo’s direction. There she met choreographer Francis Patrelle in 1984 who started Dances Patrelle in New York City with Rita as the resident costume designer starting in 1987 until 2020. Rita spent years with Dances Patrelle dressing many prima ballerinas and top dancers. Her costumes will be showcased in Dances Patrelle’s Gilbert and Sullivan ballet in NYC at the Manhattan Movement & Arts Center this March the 27th-29th.

In addition to her costuming, she owned Rita’s Custom Fashions in Williamstown. There she tailored clothing, designed and made wedding attire, and created custom pieces for anyone who asked. Also, she is famous for her Rita's Occasion Flowers, where she made large majestic eye catching arrangements and decorations for numerous Williams College and The Clark Art functions and for St. Patrick's and St. Raphael's parishes. The woman didn’t stop and was always creating, designing, and making the world a more beautiful place.

As well as maintaining her multiple personal gardens on Bulkley street, she worked with the Williamstown Garden Club, Williamstown Historical Museum, Rural Lands Foundation, Ventfort Hall in Lenox and Hospice giving of her time and abilities on a volunteer basis.

In the early '80s, Rita and Adelade England initiated the first Christmas Walk along Water Street, a Williamstown tradition that continues to this day on Spring Street.

In semi-retirement, Rita hosted many dinner parties and salons at her home, inviting speakers and they were attended in great numbers by her good friends and community members.

Rita is survived by her son Jeff Watson of Williamstown, MA, daughter Jody Watson of Winston Salem, NC and granddaughter Atli Young of Belews Creek, NC. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Saints Patrick & Raphael Church in Williamstown, MA. Burial will follow in Eastlawn Cemetery.  To add to the book of memories please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com