Dorothy Decker

Oak Ridge Funeral Care - Haines City

Robert Fuerst

Columbia Cremation Care Center

Hollis Fuerst

Altogether<br/>4307 Vineland Road, Suite H-17-19, Orlando, FL 32811<br/>For more information, visit our website at <a href='www.altogetherfuneral.com'>www.altogetherfuneral.com</a><br/>Copyright © 2025 FPG Intermediate Holdco, LLC

Dorothy Beatrice Decker of Haines City, Florida, passed away Saturday, August 21, 2021 at the AdventHealth Heart of Florida in Haines City. She was 93. A native Texan, born May 17, 1928 in Groveton, TX to Elise Washington Anderson and Ove Mina Anderson. Dorothy grew up, however in Mobile, AL and considered Mobile her home. Dorothy was married to Raymond LeRoy Decker in Santa Fe, NM and were married for over 50 years. Early in their married life they moved many times to Indianapolis, Kansas City, Shreveport and finally had a choice between Houston and Dallas and Mom chose Dallas! They raised two Daughters Theresa Mina Decker and Pauline Mary Decker in the Dallas, White Rock Lake area. Dorothy spent her early years working as a Cosmetic Buyer with Neiman Marcus and Lord & Taylor for Christian Dior and Nina Ricci. This served her well, being she was a model for John Robert Powers in California when she was young. She loved the cosmetic industry and was always dressed beautifully with full makeup and accessories. I don’t think mom ever left the house without makeup…ever! She won many awards and made many friends throughout her career. Later, Mom took a break from working and spent many years at home with my sister, Theresa and I so that she could spend time encouraging our extracurricular activities, community service and keeping us behaving. There wasn’t an interest we had that she didn’t see us carry it through. If we loved something and were interested in it, we did it! She made sure, however, that we gave back! We spent many holidays serving and giving to communities and organizations so that we understood life was about loving and giving! Life was bigger than us and that we had a role to play to leave God’s creation better because we were here. When my sister and I were out of the house and on our way, Mom decided to return to work and absolutely loved youth and children, so she went to work in the Dallas Independent School District for Bayles Elementary and Woodrow Wilson. She spent much of her time tutoring students and helping struggling students improve through reading and working. This role transitions into caring for young children and their families. She loved a particular family for many years, Tricia and Paul Johnson and their two girls, Kendall and Brooke. Mom remained actively caring and working until she was 72 years old. Dorothy was a long-time member of the First United Methodist Church in Richardson, TX, she served in the nursery caring for the babies, graduated from Disciple Bible Studies and made many friends as she served. During difficult times as a child, my memory of my mother, was her unwavering faith and she would take my sister and my hand and walk us into church and stood and sang with tears coming down her face but would smile and say God’s here. When I was struggling to find a church in my 20’s when my life went differently than expected, I couldn’t find a church, she would say, pick one…God’s in every Church and if you take the first step he will help you take the second. Mom’s faith was unending and her love for the Lord and God’s children is her living legacy. Mom was a trailblazer and believe women could work and care for their children. She loved and worked hard at both. She was proud of her accomplishments, however, prouder of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. As she aged and her memory faded, she worked hard to study pictures and keep informed of the family and all they were involved in so that she could share in the joy of Life. She loved youth! She believed in finding a way to reach a young person’s heart could be life changing. Mom did just that! She was able to find a way to help my sister through depression and went on to see my sister have wonderful success in her own business. She helped me when my dreams and life took a different course in my late twenties realize that love was everywhere if I just gave myself a chance to see it. She encouraged me to work hard, play some too and follow my heart always. She commanded excellence and believed there wasn’t anything we could achieve if we believed and worked hard enough. She believed in loving the unlovable, even if that was ourselves sometimes. Mom was a very wise person and believed every person mattered and to always find the person that felt they didn’t so that you could show them they did! Kindness was her motto. Growing up every time my sister and I left the house, she would say “be sweet.” We laughed sometimes, especially if we were in trouble, and she was throwing her shoe at us….it stuck in our minds the importance of kindness. Remember, she was Southern! We viewed Mother as a true Steel Magnolia! Dorothy is survived by, her daughter, Polly and son-in-law Tom Ritter; grandson, Nick and wife Shannon Gorham; granddaughter Ally Ritter and great grandchildren, Kia-15 yrs; Finley-8 yrs; Cole-6 yrs; Cannon–2 yrs; McKinley–1 yrs; Brooklyn–5 yrs.; many nieces and nephews in Alabama, Texas, Oregon and Maine. A visitation will be held on Friday, August 27, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Oak Ridge Funeral Care in Haines City, Florida. A graveside service will follow at 10:30 a.m. at Auburndale Memorial Park in Auburndale, Florida. Some of Mom’s favorites – besides God, Family and Friends were… Coke and a bag of Lay’s Potato Chips (all you need) McDonald Filet Fish Sandwich w/Coke (of course) A good shrimp boil (party) Celebrating Madi Gradi (both Mobile and New Orleans) Las Vegas (Elvis, Frank Sinatra – front row) Lent (always) Favorite Quotes – without quotation marks Wears your shoes…Lucy He is tight as Dick’s hatband… Turning on the light…turns a little light on the subject Be Sweet… Silence breaks the heart… If he wont talk…beat on his chest until he hears you You can lean forward if someone is blocking you rather than asking them to lean back… What’s Up…Nothing but the rent Go outside and put a book on your head so you can learn to walk with a straight back… Smile, even when you hurt…it might help the other person…which will help you… You can’t buy class… Don’t talk too loud…they can hear you…they are just not listening… I hate dusk…it reminds me of Mom dying…

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Dorothy Decker Obituary | Altogether