William “Bill” Fontaine Watts

William (Bill) Fontaine Watts (AKA Ucef Maitreya), born May 3, 1953, died at his residence in Donelson, TN on October 22, 2015. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earle Wells Watts and Betty Dant Watts; his sister, Martha Dant Watts Humphrey, and his brother, Earle (Turk) Wells Watts, Jr.

Survivors include his daughter, Andrea (John) Ritter Roth, and three grandchildren (Austin, Elizabeth and Anna); siblings: Paul, Jonathan and Heather Watts; nieces, Hannah Crowell, Heidi Humphrey and Lisel Humphrey; two grandnieces (Adeline and Iris), three grandnephews (Davon, Arron, and Miles) and friends Laurel Lee Gunter, Tere Thorsen and Jim and Debbie Rutledge.

Bill was a talented craftsman and was employed in home repair and renovations, He did leatherwork and repair at the Peabody Shoe Shop in Hillsboro Village. Bill enjoyed the outdoors and cherished his self-sufficiency. He was well educated as a naturalist and horticulturalist and enjoyed growing plants. He constructed a rustic cabin of his own design, labor and love on his farm near Alexandria, TN.

An exceptional artist who excelled in a many media including metal sculpture, jewelry, silversmithing, woodcarving, oil painting and drawing, Ucef’s works often depict nature and contained religious and mystical symbols.To many he was known by his spiritual name, Ucef Maitreya, received as a member of the Bodhi Sala Ashram of Kumi Maitreya in New Orleans, LA. Peaceful and comfortable with solitude, Bill-Ucef sought to live a quiet, creative life, a humble brother in the Great Family of Humanity.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2:00 PM, Saturday, October 7th at St. Augustine’s Chapel, Vanderbilt University in Nashville with the Reverend William Martin officiating.