OBITUARY

Louis Edward “Lou” Decker

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Louis Edward “Lou” Decker, 44, of Gonzales, Texas, made his heavenly debut in the musical revue of the Lord Almighty on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, after slipping the surly bonds of his earthbound body at The Heights of Gonzales following a brief illness.

Louis was born August 22, 1977, in Gonzales to Louis Douglas “L.D.” Decker Jr. and Marsha Lynn Pigg Decker. He proudly attended Gonzales ISD schools, graduating as a member of the Gonzales High School Class of 1995. He was an Apache through and through and bled orange and black to his very core. He was a member of the Mighty Apache Band and was a manager and statistician for the school’s athletic teams.

Following graduation from high school, Louis attended the University of the Texas at Austin and spent five years as a member of the UT Band, the “Showband of the Southwest,” which allowed him to perform on field and see his Longhorns on every game day. Win or lose, he lived to root for the Texas Longhorns and the Houston Astros.

In his early adult years, you could find Louis decked out in zebra stripes as a referee for high school football games in the South Texas area. He worked for KCTI radio station, helping broadcast multiple athletic events. He also wrote sports for the Gonzales Inquirer, covering not just his own Gonzales Apaches, but also the Nixon-Smiley Mustangs, the Waelder Wildcats, the Shiner St. Paul Cardinals and the Shiner Comanches as a consummate professional.

Sports was a passion for Louis — watching them televised or in-person, broadcasting them, photographing them and writing about them. He made it a habit to know everything he could about those taking part in any contest and would warmly greet players and coaches alike, thankful for the opportunity to chronicle their exploits.

Music played such an important part in Louis’ life. At various times in his life, he served as youth director and musical director at several different churches. He loved singing in a quartet with his father L.D. and was proud to have recorded and sang on several musical compositions, some of which can still be heard on Youtube. Louis loved all music in general, but especially Gospel, and loved to share his singing gift with others.

Not long before he became ill, Louis organized a “karaoke and fried chicken” night for his co-workers at the Gonzales Inquirer, where he worked as an advertising account executive until his health forced him to resign. By the end of the night, Louis was smiling as if he had just had the best day of his life because that is how much music, his friends and having fun meant to him.

Louis is survived by his mother, Marsha Lynn Decker; sister, Kelleye Dawn Decker and her two sons; uncle, Timothy Decker and wife Michelle; his ex-wife, Jennifer, and her children and grandchildren who he claimed as his own, a daughter, two sons, and three grandsons.

He was preceded in death by his father, his paternal grandparents, a maternal grandmother and three aunts.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 13, 2022, in the St. James Catholic Church, with Father Jason Martini officiating. Interment will be held in a private ceremony at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Louis’ GoFundMe Account at gofundme.com/manage/hope-health-and-contingency, or to Hospice of South Texas. Contributions to to the GoFundMe account will be set aside for his beloved grandsons after Friends and family may leave their condolences and sign the guestbook by visitingwww.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.

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