Paul Decker, 69, of Thompson’s Station, Williamson County, Tenn., passed away Dec. 2, 2016 of complications from Agent Orange.
Paul Decker was born May 25, 1947 to Maurice and Mildred Turpin Decker. He was raised into a hard working individual who only missed 2 days of work in the 40 years I have known him, to see his children born. He was hard working at work and at home. He loved to cook, serving and catering meals for so many. He graduated from Lincoln High School and was a member of several Catholic churches over the years. He began working before the “legal” age on farms and started in grocery at 15. He began as a stock boy, then worked in produce, then began in the meat department and was Meat Dept. Mgr. for Bruno’s. His last employment was Meat Dept. Mgr. at Stevens Grocery Stores and he loved it there. Paul was an animal lover beyond the best and took in many homeless domestic and non-domestic animals in need. I recall him saving the life of a kitten found in water and giving it mouth to mouth. It survived to become a large cat. Additionally a wild turkey that was wounded he cared for until the turkey was able to go off on its own. Paul served two tours in Vietnam and was honorably discharged in 1969.
Surviving are his wife, Yvonne (Bonz) Decker, a son, Clinton Levi Decker (Julia) and a daughter, Lexi Chantelle Hardison, (Justin), brothers, Earl Decker, Gary Decker, Steve Decker, and Mike Decker (Karen). He was preceded by a brother, Alfred Decker, a sister, Beverly Decker, a brother-in-law he called his brother, George (Boots) Tewalt, and a sister-in-law, Nancy Sullivan. He has over 40 nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9, 2016, and one hour prior to the service at Williamson Memorial funeral Home, 3009 Columbia Ave., Franklin. Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016 at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home.
WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, 615-794-2289. www.williamsonmemorial.com
