Bernice Mae Deckard
Click to Enlarge Photo
Click to Enlarge Photo
May 10th, 1916 - January 13th, 2011
From: Alton, MO
Visitation:
Funeral: 1pm Saturday, January 15, 2011
Clary Funeral Home - Alton, MO
Burial: Smith Cemetery - Alton, MO
Bernice Mae Deckard 94, of Alton, MO, on a cold winter’s night passed away peacefully, January 13, 2011 at National Health Care, West Plains, MO after a brief illness. She was born May 10, l916 in Garyville, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, a daughter of Samuel Deckard and Alice M. Laurent Deckard. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Henry and Herman Deckard, three sisters Nettye Pingree, Alice L Hahn and Belle Aletha Deckard. One niece Patsy Deckard and two great nephews Michael Orr and Lester Todd. She was a caregiver to her parents until their respective deaths. Her father died at the age of 91 and mother at 83. Bernice was proud of having lived a longer life than any other Deckard in her family.

Bernice is survived by one sister Lorene Bell, of Springfield, MO. Beloved aunt of five nieces: June Pingree Orr (Herbert “Bud” Orr) Florissant, MO; Vicki Bechen, (Steve Bracken) E. Dubuque, IL; Nancy Deckard Todd (Bob Todd) West Plains, MO; Cheryl Deckard Barbin (Robert Barbin) Acworth, GA and Susan L. Hahn (Ron Hudak) Alexandria,VA. and three nephews: John Deckard (Gaylen) of Los Banos CA, Mark Bell (Patti Bell) of Blue Springs, MO, Tim Wood (Mary Beth Wood) of Dubuque, IA. Great-aunt of 13 and great great-aunt of l2.

When her family moved to the Alton area in 1930 Bernice, along with her younger sisters, attended a one room school in the Smyrna community later graduating from Alton High School. The family attended church at Macedonia Baptist Church and later the First Baptist Church of Alton. Bernice was a welder and metal worker in the shipyards of Beaumont, TX during World War II. After returning home she worked at the Oregon County Court House and then at Alton Bank from which she retired. Until her eyesight failed her she enjoyed many hobbies. Driving her pickup truck to go fishing, picking blackberries and making cobblers for her family when they came to visit. Gardening, painting, making dolls and piecing quilts for nieces and nephews. She loved going to auctions on Saturdays with her friend Barbara Simpson and going out to eat. She enjoyed hosting family gatherings when they visited from out of town for birthdays and holidays. She would cook many traditional Southern foods. She always had a dog or cat to keep her company and kept bird feeders year round so she could watch the birds from her kitchen window. She maintained her home her entire life and was a volunteer caretaker at the Smith Cemetery for many years. She would always sit in her lawn chair on Memorial Day weekend collecting donations for the cemetery. When the Alton Library got computers she learned how to email and stayed in touch with nieces weekly until she could no longer drive. She was a long time member of the Oregon County Genealogical Society. She enjoyed passing on stories, anecdotes and relics of the Deckard/Laurent family traditions and history. She was a contributor of her family history to the Oregon County History book published by the Oregon County Historical Society in 1992.

The family wishes to thank the staff at National Health Care of West Plains MO for the loving care they gave her in her last days. Also a special thanks to her former co-worker and longtime friend Barbara Simpson for all she did to make Bernice’s last months better.

At Bernice’s request there will be no family night. Funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on January 15, 2011 at Clary Funeral Home Alton, MO. The service will conclude at the funeral home. Interment will be at Smith Cemetery. If desired, in lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Smith Cemetery Trust Fund % Clary Funeral Home P O Box 305 Alton, MO 65606.

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