GUILDERLAND — Alfred E. “Butch” Watson, the owner of Star Tree Service, was a hard worker who loved his son, Brandon, and who brought his two little dogs with him everywhere, including to his jobs as a tree trimmer. He was 51 when he was killed in a July 17 fire at his home at 3825 Carman Rd. in Guilderland.

His dogs, Coco and Shredder, died with him.

His longtime companion, Lisa Vojnar, said that he was a great dad and a great person, who would do anything for anybody.

He was born in Schenectady on March 1, 1965 and was a 1983 graduate of Guilderland High School. He began working as a tree trimmer during high school, eventually buying the company, Star Tree Service, from his stepfather, Gil Houser, Ms. Vojnar said.

His favorite thing to do, said Ms. Vojnar, was to spend time with his family, doing ordinary things like eating dinner together or just hanging out and watching movies.

He was very proud of his son, said Ms. Vojnar, who is Brandon Watson’s mother.

In his earlier years, Mr. Watson liked to race remote-control cars with his son. He had a fondness for “old, fast cars.” He was a “Mopar man,” she said, who loved specially crafted Chrysler race cars, and owned several at one point. He enjoyed the occasional visit to a casino, Ms. Vojnar said.

She and Mr. Watson were together for 15 years, Ms. Vojnar said. They always had dogs together — bigger dogs at first, but, “As he got older, he liked the little dogs, because he could take them with him,” she said.

Even after they split up, they remained close friends. “We talked every day and always said ‘I love you’ when we hung up the phone,” she said.

Brandon Watson is continuing the tree service he operated with his father. “He would have wanted me to keep on running the business,” he said.

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Alfred Watson is survived by his son, Brandon Watson, and by his longtime companion, Lisa Vojnar. He is also survived by his mother and stepfather, Linda and Julian “Gil” Housel; his brothers, Edward “Jake” Watson and his wife, Donna; Tony Watson and his wife, Chris; and Kyle Housel; his stepsister, Shelly Housel; his nieces and nephews, Laci, Kirstyn, Jacob, Ryan, Kylee, Ethan, and Elijah; his great-nephew, Thomas; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

His father, Tony Watson, died before him.

A memorial service was held on July 25 at the New Comer Funeral Home in Albany.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, 3 Oakland Ave., Menands, NY 12204.