Roy William Decker

Graveside services for Roy Decker will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 14, 2024, at the Pleasantview Cemetery, Dacoma, with Rev. Taylor Anderson officiating. There will be a visitation at the funeral home with family present on Sunday 6-7:30 p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Alva. Roy William Decker was born to William Evert and Myrtle Lillian Phillips Decker in Friona, Parmer County, Texas on January 9, 1935, and passed from his earthly home on October 9, 2024, at Share Convalescent Home in Alva, Oklahoma at the age of 89. Roy moved with his family back to Woods County, Oklahoma, in the middle of the dust bowl, at the age of 4 months, and grew up on the family farm northwest of Waynoka. He graduated from Waynoka High School with the class of 1953 and went to work for George Dyer on the Dyer Ranch north of Freedom until 1955. He married the love of his life, Loretta Curtis, on August 27, 1954. After moving to Alva, where Roy was employed with Safeway Stores, he was called to serve his country in the U.S. Army. He and Loretta relocated to Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas and then Ft. Polk, Louisiana until 1958. They returned to Alva after Roy was honorably discharged. While in the service, Roy and Loretta met many lifelong friends, many of whom they traveled with in their later years. Roy worked for Safeway for 12 years where he served as the manager of the Tonkawa, Alva, and Ponca City stores. During this time, he also attended Northwestern State University majoring in Business. Roy and Loretta returned to Alva in 1970, where they founded the Jiffy Trip Corporation. Roy was a true entrepreneur. He and his wife, Loretta, grew the Jiffy Trip Corp. to 18 locations in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. In 1979, the corporation was sold to the Hammer and Williams Company. Roy and Loretta then returned to their roots on the Southern Cross Ranch northwest of Waynoka, where they built their home and lived for 36 years. They returned to Alva once again in 2016. Roy served as Woods County Commissioner, District #3, from 1981 to 1986, during which time he was Chairman of the Commissioners and served as Chairman of the Oklahoma Association of County Commissioners. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Waynoka Masonic Lodge. Through the years, Roy served on the Alva School Board, during which time the Alva Middle School Gymnasium and the Northwest Vocational Technical School were built. He also served on the City of Alva Ambulance Crew, and he was a past member of the Alva Jaycees, Alva Chamber of Commerce, Woods County General Obligation Bond Committee, Woods County Industrial Authority, the Woods County and Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association and the Woods County Mineral Owners Association. He was preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife of nearly 70 years, Loretta, his two older brothers, Jack Decker and Buck Decker and his two sisters, Lavonua Bixler and Edith Duckworth. He is survived by his two daughters, Kay Lynn Decker of Alva and Jo Lene Decker, of Alva, two brothers, David Decker of Phillipsburg, New Jersey and John Decker of Oklahoma City, a brother-in-law Carl Carberry of Alva, four grandchildren, Jay Lohmann and his fiancé, Katie Jo, of Alva; Taylor Turner-Arndt and her husband, Dallas Arndt, of Alva; Ariel Simpson and her husband, Michael Simpson of Kiowa, Kansas; Emily Koch and her husband Ethan Koch of Topeka, Kansas; nine great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to the Freedom Gates Boys Ranch or the Alva Swimming Pool Project.

Roy William Decker

January 9, 1935 - October 9, 2024