Decker, George “Henry” – Age 94 of Upper Musquodoboit, died August 14, 2019 in Twin Oaks Memorial Hospital, Musquodoboit Harbour. Born in Jordan Ferry, Shelburne Co., he was a son of the late Harold and Hilda (Bower) Decker.
At 15, Henry started working in the lumbering industry with water and steam-powered mills. He worked full-time in that industry until he was 88.
He enlisted at age 18 and served in the Second World War in Belgium, Germany and Holland in the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, the Cape Breton Highlanders and the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. He was in the Army of Occupation as part of the Regimental Police.
In the early years of marriage, Henry served as secretary/treasurer of Upper Musquodoboit Community Association for 12 consecutive years, belonged to Elm Masonic Lodge #115 and the United Empire Loyalist Association, sang in the church choir, and taught Sunday school.
He was a charter member of Royal Canadian Legion Valley Branch 147, holding most senior positions from president to Sergeant-at-Arms. He was still serving as Sergeant-at-Arms at age 94.
For many years, Henry went to the local elementary school and several high schools in November to speak to students and show them his uniform and military memorabilia. He also presented Legion bursaries to graduates of MRHS.
He belonged to the Icelandic Memorial Society of Nova Scotia, the Maritime Antique Tool Collectors’ Association, and displayed tool collections at the Rally in the Musquodoboit Valley.
Henry had a phenomenal memory, rarely forgetting a person or event, and was known as a great storyteller. At age 90, he published his first book, “From Whence I Came”. One whole chapter had to be devoted just to funny stories about what he had experienced or heard over the years. This was followed at age 91 by “Stories of Yesteryear”. At 93, he contributed to “Heritage Lost” and at 94 was in the final stages of “Trains, Tales, and Trivia”.
Henry had a great influence on his family and those who knew him, and will be dearly missed by all.
Henry was predeceased by wife, Marcheta (Prest); daughter, Heather; brothers, Cecil (first wife Helen); Ernie (June); sister, Mildred (George) DeWolfe; son-in-law, Donald Peterson. He is survived by daughter, Sandra (Brian) Densmore, Upper Musquodoboit; sons, Bryan (Terry Urquhart), Middle Musquodoboit, and Brett (Cheryl), Chaswood; grandchildren, Terry Decker (Sheryl Lindsay), Michael (Tanya) Peterson, Kevin Decker, Beth (David) Pothier, Boyd (Leah) Densmore, Tricia Decker (Andrew Sneddon), Chelsea (Justin) Henley; ten great-grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Eleanor Decker.
Scent free, please, for visitation and funeral. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6-9 p.m., and funeral with Legion Service will be Wednesday at 2 p.m., all in St. James United Church, Upper Musquodoboit, with student minister Calvin Burt officiating. Interment will follow in Hillcrest Cemetery. Family flowers only. Donations in Henry’s memory would be gratefully accepted for the “Henry Decker Memorial Bursary”, c/o RCL Valley Branch 147, Upper Musquodoboit, NS B0N 2M0, St. James United Church, or a charity of your choice.
Cremation has taken place under the direction of Arimathea Funeral Cooperative, Upper Musquodoboit.
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