Julie Decker

Julie Decker was an extraordinary woman with an unmatched sense of humor who loved making others laugh, brightening the lives of all those within her reach. She knew how to work hard but she also loved to have fun. Julie was a talented artist who nurtured a creative spirit throughout her entire lifetime. Although her days numbered far less than many are given, her zest, compassion, and grace will be lovingly remembered by her beloved family and friends.

The 1950s were a time unlike any other in the history of our nation as we were introduced to the sounds of rock ‘n roll, the idea of the “ideal family” was shaped by shows like Father Knows Best with the growing popularity of the television, and as more families could afford single family dwellings, suburbia was born. Also enjoying this prosperous time were John and Eunice (Cothran) Higbee, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, as they were preparing for the birth of their third child at any time. They were indeed blessed on October 29, 1956, with the healthy birth of their first and only daughter, Julie. Julie was the youngest child in the Higbee clan and was raised in the family home in Fulton where she joined older brothers John and Jim. Her brothers were a bit typical in their brotherly roles as they loved tormenting and teasing their younger sister, especially in regards to her cats. In fact, Julie’s cats were seen parachuting off the roof on more than one occasion!

From an early age, Julie had diverse interests and liked being involved in a variety of activities. She was a Girl Scout, was in 4-H for sewing, bowled on various leagues, and played softball as well. Julie also possessed an adventurous side as evidenced by her liking for riding snowmobiles, motorcycles, and tractors. For her schooling, Julie attended Vicksburg schools and graduated from high school in 1974. Education was always important to Julie and she went on to earn her Associate’s Degree from Kalamazoo Community College. She also attended business classes at Western Michigan University and later earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Spring Arbor College. More recently, Julie took a computer course and was proud of the “A” she earned in the class.

Life was forever changed for Julie when in the early eighties, she went to the County Line Bar in Leonidas. Here, she met a charming man named Ivan Decker who came to hold a special place in her heart. It wasn’t long before Julie and Ivan had fallen in love and later married on September 25, 1986. Julie’s greatest blessing came when she became a mother to her only child, her son Shawn. She embraced her role as a mother and she always viewed Shawn as her greatest accomplishment. In addition to caring for her family, Julie worked at Parker’s Hydraulics Systems Division (National Water Lift) where she worked with the imports and exports. This division of Parker is the industry leader in providing fully integrated hydraulic systems and manufacturing advanced hydro-mechanical and electro-mechanical subsystems and components for aerospace and derivative markets. Julie gave her employer 26 years of dedicated service before she retired in 2007.

There were many things that made Julie the unique woman that her family and friends loved. She will always be remembered as a prankster as she loved to pull tricks and was constantly trying to “one up” herself. Julie loved Christmas and she made the holiday special for all those around her too. During the Christmas season, there were often three or four trees displayed in her home and they were all decorated by theme with Hallmark ornaments. Julie’s creativity was showcased by her various crafts including ceramics and cross-stitching which led to floral arranging and breathtaking stained glass creations. She often indulged in her passion for crafting by gaining new ideas at various craft shows she attended and the Battle Creek Balloon Festival which is held each summer was another one of her favorite events. Julie also had a love for camping throughout her entire lifetime.

Julie had a lifelong love of animals. From her beloved cats as a young girl to most her recent furry friend Rusty, a beautiful Golden Retriever Julie always held their love in her heart. It was such a comfort for her to have Rusty near her as her health began to fail.

Life became challenging for Julie when she became ill about three years ago. It was discovered that she needed a liver transplant and although she had finally reached the top of the transplant list, her body was unable to hold on any longer and she drew her last breath.

Julie Decker was a woman who loved life and having fun while embracing the family she treasured. She was a gifted artist who beautifully designed each piece of work whether large or small. Julie was close to each member of her family and she loved making them laugh with her endless antics and pranks. She was a woman dedicated to her work but most important to Julie, was her devotion to caring for her greatest source of pride and joy – her son. Julie leaves behind memories that are as vivid as her stained-glass creations and she will be dearly missed by all who were touched by her tender heart.

Julie A. Decker of Texas Corners died June 16, 2009 at University of Michigan Health Systems in Ann Arbor. Julie’s family includes her husband, Ivan Decker; her son, Shawn Decker; her brother, Jim (Marylynn) Higbee; her nephews, Keith and Joshua Higbee; her niece, Katrin Higbee; her faithful companion Rusty, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and numerous friends. Julie was preceded in death by her parents and her brother John Higbee. Visit with Julie’s family and friends, view her life story film and share light refreshments on Saturday from 1:00 - 4:00 and Monday from 12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m. at Life Story Funeral Home, Vicksburg; 409 S. Main St. (649-1697). A Funeral will be held on Monday at 1:00 p.m. at the same location. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a memory or photo, sign her memory book online before coming to the funeral home, or make a memorial donation to the Kalamazoo Humane Society, Adam Pulling Memorial Fund or a charity of your choice.