John C. Decker, a longtime resident of Salt Point for 56 years, passed away at Vassar Brothers Medical Center on Tuesday January 18, 2022 from complications of cancer with his wife and daughter holding his hand.

John was born in Poughkeepsie N.Y. to Annabelle & Louis Decker and was the baby of the family. He had four brothers and one sister, three of whom are deceased, Lewis, Earl, Harold, and his sister Florence (Tootie).  His brother Joe is living in Tennessee.

On July 11 ^th 1965, Johnny married Irene Decker who survives him at home.  They've known each other since they were 5 years old.  Johnny lived upstairs and Irene lived downstairs.  They went to kindergarten school together and never dated anyone else.  So even though Johnny and Irene were married they have been friends for 79 years.  Whenever you would see Irene, you would see Johnny right behind her.  Johnny supported Irene in everything she did.  They raised Dairy goats together and that is when Irene became a 4-H leader, and now 45 years later is still doing it.

Johnny and Irene have one daughter, Alicia Swarts and her husband Jeff, of Pine Plains;  two grandchildren Britany Swarts and Jeffrey Swarts.  Jeffrey Swarts and his wife have two children Calvin and Joanie.  Johnny has one sister-in-law Rosemary Losee of Arizona and nieces and nephews in NY, Tenn., and Florida.

Johnny worked a lot of places. He did roofing, worked at a cigar factory, and even was on the mail truck picking up mail.  Johnny worked for Texaco in Beacon for 14 years and retired from the New York State Troopers after 14 years.  Johnny worked in maintenance for both places.

Funeral Services are under the direction of the Allen Funeral Home, 1605 Main Street in Pleasant Valley, NY.   Visiting hours are 4 – 7pm on Monday, January 24 2022. A funeral service will be held from the funeral home at 11am on Tuesday January 25, 2022, followed by the interment at Saint Peters Cemetery on Salt Point Turnpike. Memorial donations may be made to the Cancer Foundation in Johnny's name. There will be a gathering sometime in the spring to honor him.