Gary Alfred Decker, M.D. Obituary

May 4, 1946 – August 15, 2025

Dr. Gary A. Decker, age 79 of Jacksonville, Florida, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, colleague, and physician passed away on August 15, 2025.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Margaret Diana Decker, 3.5 children Pamela Decker-Wright, Summer Decker (Jonathan), Griffin Decker (Seana), and Wonder the dog; 5 grandchildren Stephen (Allison), Siobhan, Christian, Asa, and Hannah; 2 great-grandchildren Zoie and Abbie, 2 granddogs CujoLilly and Hedy; and many other family members and friends who will all miss him terribly. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, and siblings Charles, Shirley and Eric, and his treasured chosen grandmother, Margaret Eleanor Reavis "Miss Susie" who adored him.

Gary Alfred Decker was born in Washington, D.C. on May 4, 1946 to Henry Ford Decker and Faye Mitchell Decker but raised in Snead, Alabama on his grandparents' farm by his beloved Grandmother, Ora Mae Campbell Decker. His upbringing on this farm picking cotton and running free in the countryside was the stuff of legends and stayed with him his entire life, as anyone who saw his ever-present bowl of cotton from the farm in his medical office knows. Ever determined, Gary decided that he would become a physician as a young boy and studied tirelessly towards that goal throughout high school where he attended and proudly played football and track at Susan Moore High School in Snead, Alabama and eventually graduated with highest honors from Groveton High School in Alexandria, Virginia in 1964.

Like his brother Charles before him, Gary enlisted in the Air Force in 1964 during the Vietnam War. He was the only Air Force Member to graduate in his Airbourne Paratrooper class, jumping over 160 jumps from perfectly good airplanes, taught survival training, and served as a test subject for the US Space Program's early Spacesuits. After his first tour, Gary left the Air Force to attend the University of Alabama, Birmingham for his undergraduate degree then, just as he said he would as a boy, graduated from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in 1975. While doing his residency in St. Vincent's Hospital of Birmingham, he won "Resident of the Year" each year in his training.

During his medical training in the hospital, Gary met a young nurse, Diana, in the emergency room who immediately turned him down for a date but through persistence became the love of his life until his last breath and beyond. They began their life adventure together on February 21, 1975, where in true form, they got married by the hospital chaplain at Montclair Baptist Hospital's Chapel. She served as his partner, favorite nurse, best blood sugar monitor, and late-night kitchen dance partner for over 50 years. After returning to finish out his military career as a Physician Officer and retiring from service as a Captain in 1980, they moved their family to Jacksonville, Florida where they started a successful private practice, Internal Medicine Associates of Jacksonville.

Dr. Decker spent over 30 years of his life dedicated to serving the First Coast community as a physician with respect, love and compassion for all of his patients. Over the years, he worked in private practice at St. Luke's Hospital, Methodist Hospital, and Memorial Hospital. He was selected by his colleagues as Chief of Medicine of Memorial Hospital for many years. He was so beloved by those who worked with him and his patients. During his career, he served on the Foundation of Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital which was one of his favorite places to work as he saw the miracles that happened there daily. Even in retirement from his medical practice, he still found ways to keep helping others by practicing part time and volunteering.

There are thousands of patients, nurses, physician colleagues and hospital workers that still remember working with him and would come up to share their favorite "Dr. Decker stories" with him, which he loved. Being a physician was his greatest pride and his love of caring for others his greatest accomplishment. He was a one-of-a-kind physician because he was able to take the "Old Country Doctor" and put it into daily practice in a modern healthcare system. He could remember a patient's bloodwork and history from memory when they came up to him at a restaurant to ask him questions. He treated his patients like they were the only one he had no matter how tired he was. Few knew of his regular 4 AM day starts in the hospital to make rounds so that he could see his patients in the office, then finish evening rounds until midnight just so that he didn't miss anyone. Somehow in between this, he would make time to go to family dinners, swim meets, plays/concerts, and date nights with Dad. There are not enough words to describe the impact that his life has had on so many. There can't and never will be another Dr. Gary Decker.

Anyone who had the honor of spending any time with Gary would be regaled with his legendary and often hilarious stories of growing up on the farm, playing football, time in the military, and countless stories of patients who touched him that he never forgot. His was a life worthy of the most inspirational movies. Because of his very humble start, he always treated everyone with a genuine kindness and compassion, teaching his children, and all of those around him, through his example to never give up on your dreams no matter how far away they seem and that every single human mattered no matter what their station in life is. It was something he lived every day. He will also be remembered for his wicked sense of humor, love of Hormel Chili, hot dogs, queso and chips, love of crazy ties, terrible Dad dancing, love of often very cheesy music, his love of reading and most importantly, his lifelong diehard devotion to the University of Alabama football team and love of Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, who he had the honor of photographing as a young man and photographer. We know that he will be coaching them on every game and every play from heaven, especially the Auburn games.

A joyous, Celebration of his life will be held on November 15, 2025, at 9 am at Aspire Church (1435 Atlantic Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207). In honor of Gary's lifelong love of sports, the family requests that attendees wear their favorite sports team's gear (even if it's Auburn) or bright, happy colors. A reception will follow with all his favorite tailgate foods. The Celebration will be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person, with a link to follow. While we will always mourn his loss, we choose to celebrate the incredible time we had with him, just as he wanted us to.

In lieu of flowers, we request a donation in his honor to either Donate Life America, the National Organ Donation Organization (Donate Life America).

Services under the care and direction of Moloney-Hewell Funeral Home, 4140 University Blvd. S. Jacksonville, FL 32216, www.HewellFuneralHomes.com