21 gun salute & taps

The memorial service for Dad was good and terrible. Unreal and crazy real. A nightmare and reality. All at the same time it made everything so final and at the same time I kept expecting Dad to walk up to me as well and start visiting during the whole event. Taps makes me cry even on a good day and the haunting lilting tune echoing back to me from those trees being played because my Dad is the one who is no gone was powerful. The 21 gun salute was impressive and loud. But watching those honor guard soldiers in thier dress blues paying thier deep respect for a man they never knew but were there to honor was power personified. Young vibrant men there to honor. What a blessing to be a participant in this tradition. They crisply folded our flag and presented it to Mom. Then gave the 21 casings from the 21 gun salute as a keepsake of the honor of that day. Impactive! Thank you to so many who came that day to share our joy and pain. Our hope and our tears. Our loss and sadness but also the knowing that it is well with our souls.

Musings

So I have decided that meetings for funerals are no fun at all. Even though and partly because my Dad lived such a full and good life it has been so hard to be a part of these plans. I haven't even been in on much of the planning and prep as I was working on other things family this week, but my heart has been involved and it has been hard. Everyone is still in shock. Grieving. Wondering. Thinking. Sad. Happy for Dad. Wondering what to do next and what will happen next. I half expect half the time for Dad to come walking into the room or even more to call me. I took his cell phone out of my speed dial the other day that sure had a feeling of finality to it. I feel like there is a jagged hole in our fabric of our family. Dad aaapparently said he wanted to be buried under a pile of rocks - appropriately and so Mom brought a bunch of rocks up from Nevada. These are rocks collected from all over the globe and only a sampling of the collection we are sure to find in the garage. Some were labeled with dates, names, places and trips others just blank. Spots and memories of a life lived well. We will throw some on top of the casket.

Obituary for Dad

Donald James Decker, after a short season of cancer, finished his earthly journey and entered his heavenly home on April 16, 2012.  He was born August 22, 1944 to Glenn and Elizabeth Decker of Corvallis, OR.  He grew up on the family farm on Decker Road and was involved in 4H and Future Farmers of America throughout his school years.  As a youth he attended a revival in Philomath, OR and accepted Christ as his Savior.  This very important decision was a life changing event for him.

He attended local Corvallis schools and graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology.  In 1968, he married Suzanne Whitney from Fortuna, CA.  After graduation in 1969, they moved to Reno, NV where they attended University of Nevada.  Don went to graduate school at MacKay School of Mines (now known as Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering) where he earned his master's degree in Geology.

His geology career spanned the next 40 plus years in Nevada, Alaska, and Oregon where he searched for gold, silver, barite, and other precious metals.  Over time he acquired many interesting and compelling mining properties. A gifted geologist and successful businessman, he developed his own mining related companies: Decker Exploration, Century Gold, LLC, Faith Land, Faith Land and Minerals, and participated in American Innovative Minerals, LLC. 

After moving to Winnemucca, NV in 1973, he became the proud father of Russell (married to Lori), followed by Mary in 1977 (married to Dustin Baker), Amy in 1980 (married to Nathan Gillespie), and Matthew in 1984 (married to Melodie).  Don often read to them and wore out Picture Bibles as they were growing up.  He loved each of his children so very much and was proud of the adults they have become.  The family lived in various northeast Nevada locations before settling predominately in the Elko area.  In 1986, he and his family built a home in Lamoille, NV.  The Ruby Mountains were a wonderful view from their home and over the years he and his family enjoyed many outings there.

Don and his family relocated to Corvallis, OR in 1989.  In 1991, he earned another master’s degree in Christian Leadership from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, OR.  He and Suzi moved back to Elko, NV in 1998.

Later, grandchildren came to delight his life as well - Jared, Emily, and Ethan Decker, Kase Baker, and Digeo Decker. As each grew, he was able to show them how to pan for gold as well as garnets from the Ruby Mountains and teach them basic geology.  He loved playing games and wrestling with them.

His gift of giving was another source of joy for him.  He encouraged many people to venture into short term mission work and supported many on long term missions in a variety of countries for his Savior and Lord.  He was privileged to travel to Mongolia and China on short term mission trips with Campus Crusade for Christ and The JESUS Film Projects.  He enjoyed giving to help build churches in various countries as well as funding education for future Christian leaders and workers through Multnomah University and various Christian schools in Oregon and Nevada.  One of his favorite Bible verses was, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21.  As a family, we have a huge deposit in heaven with our husband and father and grandfather.

He is survived by Suzi, his wife of 43 years, children, grandchildren, brothers Van Decker of Corvallis, OR and Everett Decker of Culver, OR, and their families.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Don’s memory to :

·        Biblica  1820 Jet Stream Drive  Colorado Springs, CO 80921

·        The JESUS Film Project  PO Box 628222  Orlando, FL 32862-8222

·        Crown Financial Ministries  1035 Old Peachtree Road NW  Lawrenceville, GA 30043-3309

·        Young Life Foundation  P.O. Box 520  Colorado Springs, CO  80901-0520

·        Spring Creek Christian Academy  285 Spring Creek Parkway  Spring Creek, NV 89815

·        Multnomah University  8435 NE Glisan St.  Portland, OR 97220

·        Santiam Christian Schools 7200 NE Arnold Ave Corvallis, OR 97330

Waiting for the call

I got a phone all early yesterday morning that I am sure will alter my life in ways I do not even know of yet.  My Dad, who has always been my cheerleader, helper, friend, confidant, encourager, supporter, . . . .etc. has passed away.  I know I knew it would happen but still.  I feel like I was waiting for that phone call. 

So at breakfast we wondered through our tears, if when someone gets to heaven if there is a PA system call go out.  "Don Decker, Elko, NV, is arriving at pearly gate #2 in 5 minutes, as many of you here know him, please be on hand to greet him."  While there is nothing in the Bible about that, it was an interesting discussion point.  Lots of love there and lots of people Dad loved who were I am sure on hand to greet him.

Tax Day

This morning Dad took a turn for the worse.  Basically has slipped into a coma, from which he will awake in Heaven.  Dad has said for many years, that you should pay into your heavenly account more than what Uncle Sam will ask you to pay into your tax account.  And he lived this principle too giving generously to many groups, organizations and individuals to help them and further them in the various missions that they were involved in.  This year, I think my biggest deposit into my heavenly account is going to go soon as well.  I am sure Dad would laugh as he says to store your treasures in Heaven.  And in heaven the Gold is just PAVEMENT! 
Thank God for good friends who let you cry on their shoulders.  This is by far the most painful deposit I have ever made.  A hard down payment on heaven. 

Out with your boots on

I have always wondered about the phrase "going out with my boots on" and I think I am beginning to figure it out.  It is going out doing what you love, with those you love around, at peace with the world and everyone.  Not necessarily the way everyone gets to go out, but shouldn't we all live"like you were dying"???  Because really we are.  But we have a hard time admitting it.  I cried more today and so much that my eyes feel full of sand.  The reds of my eyes hurt.  But I feel like in the last year my Dad has gotten to do a lot of the things that would help him to "go out with his boots on" though I know that none of us would have chosen this process for the actual going!  He got to take some of his family to Alaska and introduce all the older grand kids to a place he loved!  He got to visit the smaller grand kids and enjoy good time with them in their new house.  He was at a dinner for a new Bible School in Reno the night before we found out abut the cancer.  He went to Mongolia - on a mission trip - another thing he loved and supported for years - in August with my family.  He got a new business partner to help with moving his company forward.  He went hunting with his family.  He was able to attend Grandpa Whitney's wedding to show his support.  He was able to see another step forward in the pit for his business.  He had a wonderful Christmas with all his family around him.  A few people came to him to make their peace after finding out about his cancer.  He got to see the next steps forward and help plan them for his family.  We are truly and richly blessed!

Treasures in Bend

We came over to see family for Easter.  So hard.  But good.  So very blessed to have a family who are all close and who are sticking together for this project.  We are all so blessed that Dad has not really been in pain during this whole ordeal.  Apparently some people with this are in terrible pain or totally medicated to keep the pain at bay.  Thank you so much to all of you who have been praying for us!  Just today he has had pain and that is SO hard to watch. 

Dad and I in Mongolia last fall - 2011

I think as a family we are all coping better than we were last weekend.  More rest!  But it is hard to think through all the ramifications.  Even today I was picking out pictures of my Dad during  all of our lives and realized the many blessings that we were given so freely and with so much love.  Not that he was perfect - but are any of us!  We have been so many places, seen so many things and been so blessed by so many places.  We were able to go to so many places.  Dad and Mom have always been our cheerleaders and encourager and helpers.  We are realizing that we are going to be making a huge deposit into our heavenly bank account soon and that is hard to imagine.  But We are supposed to store our treasure there, so we are.  But i guess Dad is really getting a wonderful promotion.  I know he is.  Just a hard deposit to make.  I am realizing we are really such selfish people.  I also think I am much to young for this!