Margaret Thelma Decker

April 20, 1923 ~ November 11, 2021

Margaret Thelma “Peggy” Decker of Lakewood, Colorado, passed away Thursday, November 11, 2021. A private celebration of Peggy’s life will be held with her family and friends pending to occur at a future date in 2022.

Margaret Thelma Ferry was born in Missouri in 1923, daughter of John and Leona Ferry. She was mostly known as “Peggy” or “Peg” her entire lifetime. When she was an infant, Peggy and family moved to Rawlins, Wyoming and eventually they resided in Sinclair (aka Parco), Wyoming. Peggy attended high school in Rawlins and she worked at the drug store in Sinclair.

Peggy met Gale McGowan in Wyoming while he was working on the new construction of the Seminoe Dam project. The two later moved to Oregon where Gale and Peggy were married. The following year a son, Dennis, was born. In the fall of 1942, with WW2 raging, Gale joined the US Army Air Forces and trained as a B-24 bomber pilot and was sent to Europe. Meanwhile Peggy and Denny returned to live in Sinclair. In December 1944, 1Lt. Gale McGowan was killed in action while serving with the 8th Air Force in Europe.

In 1945, Peggy met Clifford F. Decker in Sinclair, Wyoming, and the two were married in July 1945. Clifford had served in the 8th Air Force with the 381st Bomb Group as a bombardier/navigator. Following WW2, Cliff was working at the Sinclair Refinery.

In 1948, Cliff, Peggy, and sons (Denny and Steven) moved to Laramie where Cliff pursued a degree in business administration at Wyoming University. The next year Gary was born. Following graduation in 1951, Clifford and Peggy and two sons (Steven and Gary) moved to Denver, Colorado. Denny stayed with his grandparents. In Denver, Peggy and Clifford’s family grew by two additional children (Cassandra and Brent). The family moved to Lakewood in the late 1960s.

During her many years, Peggy can be best described as selfless, considerate, meticulous, a dedicated mother and home manager. In addition to home and family, Peggy was also involved in the Wesleyan Methodist Church and worked in a school kitchen. She attended Barnes Business College and she assisted Clifford in his real estate business. Peggy enthusiastically embraced the friendships of many people; everyone she met was a new friend. She loved everyone and they loved her.

Sadly, Clifford passed in 1990, but Peggy continued to maintain their home in Lakewood until she passed. Her daughter, Cassandra, preceded her in death in 2020; also preceding Margaret were her parents, John and Leona; a half-brother, Orvel Ferry and her sister, June Firestone.

Peggy is survived by: sister, Bonnie Maynard; four sons: Dennis McGowan, Steven Decker, Gary Decker, and Brent Decker; daughters-in-law: Vicky Decker and Ellen McGowan; sons-in-law: Dave Sauer and Warren Seidberg; grandchildren: John McGowan, Amy McGowan-Iannucci (Jeff), Tammy Seidberg-White, Laura Seidberg-Evans (Shawn); and 4 great-grandchildren. Peggy is also survived by many nieces and nephews, cousins and other close relatives and by many friends.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to: Baptist Youth Mission, P.O. Box 4, Sinclair, WY 82334 General Fund: In Memory of Margaret “Peggy” Decker. http://www.sinclairbaptistchurch.org/give/

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CrownHillFuneral.com for the Decker family.