Rev. J. D. Decker

Rev. J. D. Decker, 73, of Murphy, N.C., died Friday, November 10, 2006 at Murphy Medical Center in Murphy, NC.

He was a native and lifelong resident of Cherokee County, NC and was a U.S. Army Korean War Veteran. J.D. was store manager for Ingle's Market in Blairsville, Georgia until his retirement after twenty-eight years. He was a 1975 graduate of Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute in Hendersonville, NC. Rev. J.D. was a Baptist Minister over thirty years and was a church pastor serving several churches in the area for many years. He was a member of the South End Baptist Church and the Masonic Cherokee Lodge #146 in Murphy.

He was a son of the late Luther and Violet Jenkins Decker and was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann Forrester Decker who died September 30, 2005.

J. D. is survived by two sons and their wives, Darrell and Dawn Decker of Murphy and Mitchell and Karen Decker of Canton, N.C.; a daughter and her husband, Sandy Decker Sneed and David Sneed of Murphy; brother, M. G. Decker of Sylva, N.C.; sister, Meredith Palmer of Murphy; six grandchildren, Bridgett Curtis, Justin Sneed, Shelby Decker, Brandon Decker, Bethany Decker and Brian Decker; and two greatgrandchildren, Sierra Curtis and Brianna Curtis.

A Graveside Service and burial was held at 2 p.m., Sunday, November 12, 2006 at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in Murphy, NC.

The Rev. Richard Masburn will officiate. Pallbearers will be Jeff Palmer, Joel Palmer, Jamie Palmer, Justin Sneed, Brandon Decker, Brian Decker and Mark Laney. Honorary pallbearers will be members of all the Emergency service providers.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made In Memory of Rev. J. D. Decker to The Gideons International, Memorial Bible Chairman, P. O. Box 164, Murphy, NC 28906.

You may send tributes to the Decker family at www.mem.com.

Townson Rose Funeral Home in Murphy is in charge of all arrangements.