Earl Thomas "Tom" Decker

EARL THOMAS 'TOM' DECKER Funeral services for lifelong Cortez resident, Earl Thomas Decker will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 17 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Empire Chapel. Interment will follow at the Webber Cemetery in Mancos. A visitation has been scheduled for Saturday morning at 9 a.m. in the Baptismal Room at the LDS church. Tom was born on January 11, 1926 in Mancos the son of Earl Durham and Mary Louise (Halls) Decker. He passed away on December 10, 2005 at his home in Cortez at the age of 79. A lifelong member of the LDS church; Tom married Elly Nievaard on April 14, 1952 at the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple. He was a hard working rancher and farmer who enjoyed reading about history. Tom also loved playing the piano. Surviving Tom are his children, Danny Decker and wife, Annette of Cortez, Joyce Goff and husband, David of Cortez, Richard Decker and wife, Lupe of Baton Rouge, La., Mary Ann Green and husband, Ed of Cortez, Jeffrey Decker and wife, Karma of Matterson, Ill., and James “Jim” Decker and wife, Jill of Redlands, Calif. He leaves 27 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; as well as his two sisters, Mary Jones and husband, Denton of Washington, Utah, and Donna Lou Bardswitch of Sudbury, Ontario. Preceding him in death were his parents; and his wife, Elly.