Exum DeVer Watts, age 89, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 21, 2015 at Adams Place. Dr. Watts was born in Nashville, TN and was the son of the late Exum Bennett and Elizabeth Kenning Watts. He grew up in west Nashville in the Richland Creek community and attended high school at Lipscomb High where he met the love of his life, Will Neil Gregory. He graduated from David Lipscomb College where he was awarded numerous honors including "Bachelor of Ugliness." He then attended George Peabody College attaining a masters degree in both biology and chemistry. Dr. Watts continued his education at Vanderbilt University earning his Ph.D. in chemistry. Throughout his career, he taught college-level chemistry courses at Florence State College in Florence, AL; Harding University; and retired from Middle Tennessee State University after teaching there for 37 years. At MTSU, he was the faculty advisor for pre-med students and helped them make key decisions about their future careers as doctors, pharmacists, or other medical professions. He enjoyed teaching others. He himself was a life-long learner, loved a good crossword puzzle that put his language skills to the test, and enjoyed crafting good sentences with puns. He was a consummate storyteller and loved telling stories of his childhood and high school years, especially recalling days with his high school sweetheart. He was the devoted husband of the late Will Neil Gregory Watts for more than 65 years. Their marriage was recognized by all who knew them as the epitome of mutual love, respect, and devotion. He was a much loved father and grandfather. A faithful Christian, he was a member of North Boulevard Church of Christ where he was actively involved in the early years of the Christian Student Center at MTSU (now called Raiders For Christ) and taught adult Bible classes for many years. Dr. Watts is survived by a daughter, Ellen Watts; son, Greg Watts and his wife, Gwen, all of Murfreesboro, TN; daughter-in-law, Gretchen B. Watts of Nashville, TN; and cherished grandchildren Elizabeth Kenning Watts, Kathryn-Claire (Matthew) Barlas and Hannah Neil Watts. Dr. Watts was preceded in death by his wife, Will Neil Gregory Watts; son, Charles Exum Watts; and brother, James K. (Jimmy) Watts. Funeral service will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Brother Steve Blackman and Bill Sloan will officiate. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. The following will serve as pallbearers: Jerry Campbell, J. R. Ivey, Bill Griggs, Matthew Barlas, Billy Brimm, and Mike Turner. The family would like to thank the staff at Adams Place for their loving care for the last four years. Memorials may be made to Raiders for Christ, 1105 E. Bell Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130 or the Churches of Christ Disaster Relief, 410 Allied Drive, Nashville, TN 37211.