BENNINGTON, VT: Shirley Mae (Harris) Decker, 89, resident of Shaftsbury Hollow passed away peacefully on Thursday February 4, 2016 at the Vermont Veterans Home. The daughter of the late Harlan C. and Margie G. (Roberts) Harris, she was born in St. Petersburgh, FL on July 12, 1926. She received her education in Lawrence, MA and graduated from Westfield, (MA) High School. She had resided in Westfield for many years where she had worked at White’s Quaint Shop and Old Colony Envelope Company. She was a member of the Westfield Woman’s Club, a 67 year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Ladies Oriental Shriners and member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary in Errol, NH , however she was most proud of being a lifelong 77 year member of the Girl Scouts of America. Shirley had been a HAM radio operator, she loved photography and flying, she also enjoyed fishing and hunting with her late husband Everett, whom she married on Oct 12, 1951.
She leaves her children: ‘the five E’s”, Edwin Decker and his wife Julie of Partlow, VA, Errol Decker and his life partner Patty Guay of Berlin, NH, Everett Decker of Westfield, Everley St. Peter and her husband Victor of Shaftsbury and Evelynn Decker of Bedford, NH; 7 grandchildren :Vergil, Veronica, Elizabeth, David, Jessica, Jennifer,and Jason, and 2 great grandchildren Avaline and McKenna. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by brothers Howell, Charles and Harlan Harris.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday February 6 at 10am at the Four Chaplains All Faiths Chapel at the Vermont Veterans Home with Chaplain Kenneth Coonradt officiating. She will be buried with her husband in Pine Hill Cemetery in Westfield, Mass.
Many thanks to the Vermont Veterans Home for all their hard work and dedication in making sure Shirley Mae Decker’s four year stay there felt like being at home. Memorial gifts may be made to the VT Veterans Home Patient Activities Fund in care of the Hanson Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home, 213 West Main Street, Bennington, VT 05201.
To send personal condolences, visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
