Viola Anne Decker

Viola “Anne” (Foshee) Decker of Eloy died Jul 23, 2022 peacefully in her home with her caregivers by her side.

Viewing will be from 8 to 9 am, Friday, July 29 at J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel in Casa Grande with the funeral following at 9 am. Burial will be in the Eloy Memorial Park.

Mrs. Decker was born May 2, 1933 to Carl and Vera Jewel (Jarvis) Foshee in Hot Springs Arkansas, one of 6 siblings, Edward Foshee, Jane (Foshee) Scanlon, Carl Foshee Jr, Sue (Foshee) Drobena and James Foshee. She met her husband Donovan “Don” Decker in Hot Springs in 1950 and they married on February 15, 1951. She was a wife and mother traveling with her husband as he followed the seasons as a crop duster, living in a trailer raising the first of their three children, Donovan Jr, Dennis and Dianne. In 1956 they settled in the Picacho area and later in Eloy, Arizona where they purchased their first and only home, where their fourth child Dina was born, and Mr. Decker started his crop dusting business with his partner. She and her husband also raised Arthur Padilla as their son.

Mrs. Decker developed a love of her community, and volunteered for many causes serving the needs of the citizens of Eloy. She was a teacher’s aide for the Kindergarten of Eloy Elementary School District, later on she took the seat of her husband on the Eloy Elementary School Board and served 7 terms. When the youngest of the Decker children started school, Mrs. Decker attended Central Arizona College where she earned her associates degree and became a Registered Nurse. She worked at Homeko Hospital in the maternity ward, where she helped deliver three of her grandchildren. Later Mrs. Decker was a home health nurse, before becoming a School Nurse in 1985 where she worked until her 80th birthday, serving the students of Santa Cruz Valley Union High School for 29 years in Eloy. In 1983 she became a member of the Eloy Fire Department serving for 2 years, as an emergency medical technician, when the department established their ambulance service. In 1984 when the Eloy and surrounding farming community was stricken with the 100 year flood, Mrs. Decker volunteered with the Red Cross as a nurse helping establish an evacuation center at the high school gym where she spent countless hours assisting those displaced by the flood. She was an advocate for the youth of the Eloy community with a passion for education, health, wellness and the safety of the children of Eloy. She served on many boards and committees to advocate for her community and the citizens.

She was devoted to her family. Survivors include her children, three sons Don Decker Jr (Jo), Dennis Decker (Elena), and Art Padilla and two daughters Dianne Decker and Dina Decker. Her Sister Jane Scanlon of Chicago, Illinois. Her grandchildren, Denny, Jonathan, Kimberly, Jacquelynne, Donovan Jason, Daniel, Evelyn, Carolyne Rene, Erica, Garrett and Nyko, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Contributions can be made in her name to the Parent Center at Eloy Elementary, the Eloy Library, the Santa Cruz Food Bank in Eloy and Mrs. Decker would always encourage us to contribute to the education for the youth of Eloy whether it be donating clothing, paying for school lunches or providing school supplies.