John Barton Decker

Funeral services for longtime area resident, John Barton Decker will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mancos, CO on Friday, October 1, 2010 at 2pm. After a long and fruitful life, John Barton Decker, age 86, peacefully passed away at Vista Grand Inn in Cortez, Colorado, on September 25, 2010. Born August 1, 1924, in Mancos, Colorado, John spent the majority of his life south of Mancos in Webber Canyon. He was a farmer, mechanic, crewmember on the Mesa Verde Tunnel, worked for 23 years as the Mancos Rural Route Mail Carrier. After retiring he worked as a delivery driver for Cortez Milling, Co. When John was 10 years old he contracted polio which resulted in a twisted spine. At the Denver Children's Hospital John underwent experimental spinal fusion surgery which allowed him to walk again. John never let any physical limitations hinder him and he found great joy as a Scoutmaster. John married Gwenlyn Irene Lakin on November 26, 1951 in the Salt Lake Temple. John and Gwen had four children. In 1992 they moved from their beloved Mancos Valley to Bountiful, UT and lived there until moving back to Montezuma County in 2005. John was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all his life. He served as a counselor in the bishopric six different times. He and Gwen served as missionaries to Arkansas, were temple workers in the Bountiful Utah Temple, and genealogy workers for the Institute of Religion at the University of Utah. John never met a stranger. He had an infectious smile, keen sense of humor and was a great storyteller John was quick to help anyone in need and always stopped to help a neighbor or stranded motorist regardless of what else he was doing at the time. Survivors include his companion of nearly 59 years, Gwenlyn of Cortez, CO. Children Kenneth & Gloria Decker of Cortez, CO, Steven & Diana Decker of Tucson, AZ, Debbie & Chuck Stringer of Layton, UT and Tessa Decker of Magna, UT. His posterity includes 17 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. John was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin Morris Decker and Maria Wheeler Decker. Siblings Bernice Haynie, Bessie McGee, Barbara Cline, Lucy Burnham, Marjorie Halls, Morris Decker, Virginia Evans, Paul Wayne Decker and grandson James Morris Decker.