He Was Isaiah.

if you knew him, you know exactly what that means

Isaiah Joseph Watson was eight years old. He had just finished second grade.

He stood 4’10’ and weighed 92 pounds…details that never seemed to matter to him. Isaiah moved through the world with a joyful, blissful unawareness of size, sometimes dropping his full weight onto you like a Great Dane who hadn’t learned he wasn’t a lap dog. The way he moved and played, made people laugh, every time. That was Isaiah.

To know him was to hold several truths at once. Outside the front door, he was beautfiul, calm and gentle, thoughtful in a steadying way. Inside, he was a beautiful chaos— full of energy, feeling, always moving. He was strong willed and deeply sensitive in equal measure, and he had a way of making it unmistakably clear that you mattered to him.

Isaiah lived every one of his days with a fullness that was felt as much as seen. He loved without hesitation.

This space is an invitation to remember him, to come to know him more fully, and to sit, in whatever way feels right, with both the joy of his life and the weight of his absence.

A day with Isaiah:

He wakes up at 5:15 a.m., maybe 5:30 if he slept in, and is immediately, completely awake. The first order of business is waking everyone else up too, because why would anyone want to sleep through a perfectly good morning? He gets first pick of Minecraft or Rocket League. Pizza for breakfast. No debate, no negotiation. “Pizza.”

Then it’s Keiki Kingdom, where the only game that exists is “Monster,” played for as long as humanly possible. Back home to build forts outside with Carson. The pool. A movie of his choosing, and while the movie plays he is also building a brand new Lego set.

Then the greatest gift of all: no shower. No teeth brushing. He would also “not have to go to bed” at any time, and could freely “not fall asleep” on the couch until eventually, on his own terms, making his way up to his bed.

No grand adventure. Just his people, his pizza, his Legos, and nobody telling him it was time to wash his hair and body or brush his teeth.

Two children, a boy and a girl, standing indoors during Christmas event. The boy wears a homemade Christmas tree costume made from paper with a decoration on top, and the girl wears glasses with purple frames. In the background, other children and adults are gathered around a Christmas tree, and a large USO of Missouri banner with American flag design is visible.
Two children, a boy and a girl, standing indoors during Christmas event. The boy wears a homemade Christmas tree costume made from paper with a decoration on top, and the girl wears glasses with purple frames. In the background, other children and adults are gathered around a Christmas tree, and a large USO of Missouri banner with American flag design is visible.
A young child with dark curly hair and bright blue eyes, sitting on a white bed. The child has red lipstick kiss marks on their face and body and is holding a red decorative item with intricate cutout patterns. The child is looking toward the camera with a slight smile.
A young child with dark curly hair and bright blue eyes, sitting on a white bed. The child has red lipstick kiss marks on their face and body and is holding a red decorative item with intricate cutout patterns. The child is looking toward the camera with a slight smile.
Person at the beach, partially submerged in the water, with a rocky, tree-covered island in the background under a cloudy sky.
Child smiling in front of a colorful LEGO sculpture of a blue and white character with red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple Lego figures on a black table.
Close-up of a young child sitting in a red stroller, wearing a blue and yellow striped beanie with a yellow cloth decoration, and a red and black checkered jacket. The background shows a playground with gravel ground and a red bench.
A woman kissing a young boy with curly hair on the cheek, in a room with green and purple furniture.
A young boy with curly brown hair, wearing a blue sleeveless shirt and red shorts, standing on a sandy beach with the ocean and a cloudy sky in the background. He is holding a large, dark, and wet sea creature with both hands, presenting it towards the camera.
A young boy with curly brown hair, wearing a blue sleeveless shirt and red shorts, standing on a sandy beach with the ocean and a cloudy sky in the background. He is holding a large, dark, and wet sea creature with both hands, presenting it towards the camera.
A smiling baby lying on a colorful bed with green, blue, and jungle-themed sheets.
A smiling baby lying on a colorful bed with green, blue, and jungle-themed sheets.
A smiling young boy with curly hair lying on the floor next to a Lego creation, giving a thumbs up, in a room with hardwood floors and beige walls.
A young boy with dark hair and a smile, standing on grass during daytime, holding a medal with a stars and stripes design, with other people in the background near a sports field.
A young boy with dark hair and a smile, standing on grass during daytime, holding a medal with a stars and stripes design, with other people in the background near a sports field.
Close-up of a smiling baby lying on a colorful, aquatic themed blanket with fish and underwater plants. The baby is wearing a blue and black plaid shirt and has dark hair.
Close-up of a smiling baby lying on a colorful, aquatic themed blanket with fish and underwater plants. The baby is wearing a blue and black plaid shirt and has dark hair.
Group of children and a woman smiling, wearing colorful leis, in a space with chairs and military personnel in the background.
Group of children and a woman smiling, wearing colorful leis, in a space with chairs and military personnel in the background.