Holyoke Enterprise, Holyoke, Colorado, August 31, 1972

Vernon Decatur Rites August 15 in Oregon

Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 15, from Barrick Mortuary, Salem, Oregon for Vernon “Duke” Decatur, former Holyoke resident, now of 4745 Skyline Rd So, Salem, Oregon, who died at a local hospital of pneumonia. Interment was at Belcrest Park, Salem with ritualistic service by the Knights of Pythias lodge, Salem.

Mr. Decatur was born in Iowa in 1884. After living in San Francisco, California, he and his father moved to Holyoke in 1906, where they farmed four miles south of Holyoke. As a young man he later homesteaded 18 miles south of Holyoke in what was known as the sand hills. He was known to his many friends as “Duke” and played considerable baseball when living in Holyoke.

In 1916 he married Dorris Weir. To this union two children were born: a son, Kenneth, and a daughter, Pauline (now deceased). He is survived by his wife and son, four grandchildren, and three great grandchildren; a half sister, Neoma Cannon, Independence, Missouri.

He was in business in Holyoke after leaving the farm until they family moved to Salem in 1932 where he was co-owner in the Decatur & Maerz Plumbing shop, retiring in 1956.

He was active as a sportsman and belonged to fraternal orders in Salem and an honorary member of the Holyoke Fire department.