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Rosemary Decker

June 24, 2016
Las Cruces, NM

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Rosemary Tucker Decker, age 70, of Las Cruces, NM passed away June 24, 2016 as a result of injuries she suffered when she fell from a horse in Moose, Wyoming. Our precious Rosemary was born on May 19, 1946 in Tacoma, Washington, the daughter of O.F. and Vivian Tucker who preceded her in death. She and her parents, two sisters and brother relocated back to their home in Casper, Wyoming shortly after Rosemary was born. Her loving family taught her the values of courage, patience, dignity, moderation, respect for others and grace. The youth program at First Baptist Church of Casper reinforced the same values. Her boundless energy was exercised by synchronized swimming, camping in Yellowstone, snowing skiing on Casper Mountain and Water Skiing on Lake Alcova. Her slight stature belied a competitive spirit that made her the Wyoming State Girls Champion water skier in Slalom and Jumping, as well as numerous medals and trophies for snow skiing. More recently she has enjoyed gardening, hiking, snow skiing, travel and mahjong. In June 1964 she graduated seventh in her class of 783 students at Natrona County High School. Her Baptist faith and her interest in the innovative "K" plan, especially the opportunity to study abroad, attracted her to Kalamazoo College. During her career service quarter she worked in Washington, D.C. for Senator Milward Simpson. In her junior year she studied in Aix en Provence, France. Rosemary earned her B.A. degree in English in June 1968. In July of that year she married her college sweetheart, Harold J. Decker. On July 23, 2016 they would have celebrated 48 years of mutual love, respect and devotion to each other. While her husband served in Vietnam with the United States Army, Rosemary earned her Masters in Library Science at UCLA and accepted employment with Whittier Public Library in Whittier, California as a children's librarian. She and her husband moved back to Kalamazoo in 1980 with two children and a third child on the way. She was a perfect example of what a mother should be. She made time to read to her children, assist them with their music, ballet, athletics and swimming lessons and taught them, and many of their friends, how to water-ski. As one of the friends of our children said: "I remember Rosemary taking us to the lake and spending hours on the water making sure each of us had a turn on the skis and tubes, then go in make dinner, wash all the towels, fluff pillows for watching movies and tuck us in at night." Rosemary enjoyed her membership in Newcomers, Junior League and the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra League, for which she served as President for one term, the chair of its annual fundraising auction and service on the Kalamazoo College Alumni Association Executive Board. For many years, Rosemary and Harold have lived in view of the Organ Mountains in New Mexico during the winter and on a Michigan lake in the summer where many happy memories were made. Throughout her life Rosemary enjoyed reading, gardening, snow skiing, traveling with family and friends and chasing after her grandchildren, but her greatest joy and constant priority were always her loved ones. Rosemary is survived by her husband and best friend, Harold J. Decker, daughters Mereke (Enrique) Carrizosa of Bogota, Colombia; Ariane Sawyer of Rochester Hills, and Joisan (Robert) DeHaan of Mattawan; granddaughters, Annabelle and Aria Carrizosa and Anneke DeHaan; sisters Shirley (Bert) Myers, Miriam Songster and several beloved nieces, nephews and their children. Her brother, Lt. Warren Tucker preceded her in death. A celebration of Rosemary's life will be held in Stetson Chapel at Kalamazoo College on Sunday, July 10 at 11:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Brain Trauma Foundation: www.braintrauma.org.