Mr. Raymond Duane Decker

Ray was born January 13, 1932 to Raymond and Ibbia Decker, in Delphos, Kansas.

To his family and school friends, Ray was known as "Skip."

Skip met Joan Wiedower in Phillipsburg, Kansas in 1950. He joined the U.S. Navy, and the following year, while at home on leave, Ray and Joan married. They moved to San Diego, California, and started a family.

Ray served on the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Des Moines until his discharge in 1955. After his Navy service, Ray became a trooper with the Kansas Highway Patrol. During his tenure with the KHP, he worked out of Topeka, Seneca and Columbus, Kansas. At the urging of a friend, Ray left the KHP in 1962 and moved to Denver, Colorado to sell cars. He was a natural and worked his way up through every sales position. A stint as General Manager of a large Ford dealership led to a partnership in Kerr Ford, and later to his own dealership in Clovis, California, where he opened Decker Ford in 1976. Ray loved going to work, putting in many long days. He said, "If you love what you do, getting paid is just a bonus," and the success of his business was testament to his hard work. He appreciated his employees and through his leadership tried to ensure their well-being and security. His associates often spoke of the respect they felt for Ray.

Ray and Joan loved to travel and had fun visiting many parts of the world. He took up golf in his late forties and spent many hours on the course. After retirement he played every day and enjoyed the companionship of his golf buddies, smoking cigars and telling tall tales. When he was no longer able to golf, he spent his time reading. He always felt he was a lucky guy to have lived such a full life and to have achieved so much. He often entertained his family and friends by singing this song, which spoke of his outlook on life.

Lucky, lucky, lucky me! I'm a lucky son of a gun.

I work eight hours, I sleep eight hours, that leaves eight hours for fun.

Lucky, lucky, lucky me! Even though I haven't a dime,

I laugh and play in a carefree way, and I'm having a wonderful time.

He touched many lives in a positive way and will be dearly missed. He is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Joan Decker; daughter, Sheri Humphreys of Cambria; son, Steven Decker of Fresno; granddaughter, Chanel Decker of Sacramento; grandson Curtis Decker of San Francisco; sister, Lyn Gardner of Edmonds, Washington and other extended family.The family thanks the St. Agnes Emergency Department, Third Floor ICU, 3-West, and 2-West staff for their excellent care.

Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral home, on Thursday, May 22, 2014, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.

A Funeral Service will be held at Fresno First Baptist Church, 1400 E. Saginaw Way, on Friday, May 23, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. followed by A Celebration of Life at Fort Washington Country Club.

Private interment will be held at Belmont Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Agnes Foundation: Neuroscience Program, 1111 E. Spruce Ave., Fresno, CA 93720.

Arrangements under the direction of Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home, Fresno, CA.