Erlena “Owens” Deckard, 96 of Nashville passed away Tuesday morning, May 8, 2018 in Brown County Health and Living with her family at her side. She was born in Brown County, IN on March 8, 1922 to Ross Owens and Dorval Fleetwood Owens. On March 5, 1941 she married Leslie Deckard and they enjoyed 71 years of marriage before his death on January 12, 2012. Together she and Leslie raised a family and farmed 200 acres in western Brown County.
Survivors include her five children; Sharon Ayres and her husband Jim of Bloomington, Faye Lynn Deckard of Bloomington, Lana Wrightsman and her husband Edward of Nashville, Jeffrey Deckard and his wife Cathy of Nashville, and Curtis Deckard and his wife Shelly of Nashville, a brother; James Owens of Nashville. Erlena enjoyed 9 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; 1 great great granddaughter with another on the way. In addition to her husband, Leslie, Erlena was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother, Eugene Owens.
Erlena grew up in Belmont and attended the Belmont School. She has been described as a scientist of the soil, a real salt of the earth person who knew how to live off the land. She was a baker, baking pies for the Nashville Street Fair and the Nashville House as part of her clientele; she sold eggs to many stores and restaurants in Bloomington and Nashville. She would have 3 gardens at a time as well as growing flowers; she enjoyed canning the fruits of her labor; she was a very dedicated mother and grandmother; at one time was a precinct committeeman for the Democrat Party in Brown County.
There will be a gathering of family and friends on Friday, May 11, 2018 from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM in Bond-Mitchell Funeral Home at 1682 State Road 135 North, Nashville. Funeral Services are scheduled for Friday at 2:00 PM with Pastor Bruce Bond officiating. Burial will follow in Duncan Cemetery.
We would like to thank our extended family of 7 years at Brown County Health and Living who cared for our mother during her stay there, especially Bev Varner and Joe Sizemore who were there consistently, welcoming her in March of 2011 and were there to say goodbye on May 8th, and to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana who provided comfort for her end of life transition.
If friends so desire, Memorial Contributions may be made to Brown County Health and Living Activities, Our Hospice of South Central Indiana or Duncan Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund.
