Sheran J. "Sheri" Decker

Sheran J. (Sheri) Decker, 79, of Columbus, went to be with our Lord and Savior on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at Brown County Health and Living in Nashville, Indiana. She previously lived in Alamogordo, NM for 40 years. She was born February 6, 1945, in Leighton, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Norman and Marion R. (Kolb) Long. She married Richard B. Decker, Sr. on September 5, 1964 and he survives. A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 19, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. in the East Columbus Christian Church with Pastor Ron Bridgewater officiating. There will be no visitation hours prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association. Sheran was a loving military wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Through the years, she loved her black labrador retrievers, the ocean, walking, watching mystery television, reading mystery novels and the color blue was her favorite. Sheran leaves behind her husband, Richard; daughters, Cheryl (Stephan) Lackey and Kris (Keith) McGrath; sons, Ric Decker, and Craig (Karri) Decker; 8 grandchildren, Ashlie Decker, Brandon Decker, Zackari Decker, Kylie (Clayton) Bailey, Tanner (Kalista) McGrath, Alyssa Lackey, Kenzie (Noah) Fishe and Riley McGrath and great-grandsons, Sebastian Diaz, Logan Diaz, and Lincoln Decker. Our mom was born on the 6 th of February 1945. Mom was raised on a farm in rural Pennsylvania in the town of Lehighton. To give you an idea of where, Billy Joel’s song, “Allentown” is written about this area. She had one sister who was 18 years older than her. Before Mom was born, the Dr. told my Grandma that what she thought was a baby was a tumor. Happily, a little later, Sheran Juanita Long arrived. She was raised Pennsylvania Dutch, but you’d never know it by her name. Her sister wanted to name her Sheran Hiawatha, but they settled on Juanita as a middle name. She grew up like an only child but had 2 nephews that were more like cousins, and they were still in touch until she passed away. She told me that they had everything that they needed when she was growing up, but she did say that she only got a hair ribbon and an orange for Christmas one year. She graduated high school in 1962 and left for secretarial school in New Jersey. She got a job at the Western Union where she met her future mother-in-law who introduced her to her future husband. Our Dad was in the Air Force, so she became a military wife when they got married in 1964. She had my older brother (Ric) in May of 1965 and 11 months later I came along in April of 1966. Five and ½ years later my younger brother (Craig) was born in October of 1970 and finally 13 months later in Nov. of 1971 Kris my younger sister was born. Mom was always up for a new adventure and took moving every 2 years in stride. She was a stay-at-home MOM until Kris turned 5 and she went to work for one of the first Walmart stores in the U.S. where she met Sam Walton and Farah Faucet. After 20 years in the Air Force, Dad retired, and we moved back to Pennsylvania to be closer to family. She also worked while we lived there still helping to provide for her children as she always did. We moved to New Mexico after 2 years in Pennsylvania when Dad got a job working on airplanes and Mom got a job as a bank teller at the First National bank. After several years she got a job in the civil service working on military bases. She retired from the civil service at Holloman Air Force Base doing outbound assignments, orders, and passports in the early 2000s. She had 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren and 3 more great- grandchildren on the way. Plus 2 grandsons after weddings planned for June of 2025 when she returned to our Heavenly Father. She was the perfect Mom for us. She loved and supported us with her entire being. She was a cheerleader at every event and activity that her kids were involved in over the years (Swimming meets, tennis matches, scouts, baseball, football, choir, etc.) She never missed anything that involved her kids. She enjoyed cooking for the people she loved, especially brisket and dumplings, and really enjoyed the holidays when everyone would spend time together and she could love on her family. My mom had courage that came from deep inside. She weathered bad times in her life and was always a shoulder to cry on. She always put her kids’ needs before her own and would encourage us to be the best we could at whatever we were trying to accomplish at the time. She handled what life threw at her with grace and confidence. She taught us to be independent, to have morals, to be honest and trustworthy. She made us into the people we have become today. She was the proudest mom, grandma, and great grandma, EVER!!! One of the ways she showed this love was all the pictures that she had around her house. Every inch of wall and tables were covered with pictures of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Family was everything to her and she loved us with all she had! I’ll miss her with all my heart and soul until I see her again. I love you bunches and forever MOM. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home. You are invited to leave a memory or condolence to the Decker family on the funeral home website: www.jewellrittman.com

Sheran J. "Sheri" Decker

February 6, 1945 - April 14, 2024