Karolyn Dekker Obituary (1937

Karolyn Ann Dekker, 77, walked into the presence of her Savior, the Lord Jesus on Friday, January 30, 2015. Karolyn was born August 7, 1937 in Yakima, the second daughter of Ernest and Esther French. She grew up and went to school in Selah and graduated valedictorian of her class. She met the love of her life, L. Bert "Sonny" Dekker at the Yakima K & I Drive Inn and they married on July 12, 1957, making their home in Yakima. In 1964 they built a home on the family farm in White Swan; they sold the farm house to their grandson in 2012 and moved to Terrace Heights. Karolyn was a pastor's daughter and a farmer's wife, loving Jesus and her family every day of her life. She worked beside her husband, keeping the farm books, picking up parts and doing whatever was necessary to keep her home and farm running smoothly. Her gift of hospitality meant that her home was always a place of comfort for her family and all who entered. No one ever left her home hungry or in need. When her children left home, she said the house was too quiet, so she went to work for Cowin & Sons in Wapato for a several years, making lifelong friends with many folks there. Karolyn had a servant's heart. She attended Harrah Assemblies of God church, served as their treasurer for more years than she would count and at times was the pianist, organist, WM leader, and Sunday school teacher, among other things. Teaching Sunday School for the residents of the Gray Poplars adult home and celebrating all their Special Olympics triumphs. She served as a representative for the Yakima Valley Women's Ministries of the NWAG and Christian Women's Club. She loved to travel with Sonny and the girls and was an avid quilter. She truly loved their retirement winters at their Desert Sun condo in AZ, enjoying the "snowbird" life of sun and card playing with friends. Karolyn had a loving, bubbly and joyful personality. She made friends wherever she went and became "Mom" and "Grandma" to hundreds of her children's and grandchildren's' friends and classmates. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, delighting in her family every moment she had with them. Lights of her later life; Kenzie, Ren & Kamie, the great grandchildren that she loved to spend time with swimming, reading and endless singing. She is in heaven with both parents, her sister Arlene and her infant brother. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, L. Bert Sonny Dekker, her daughters, Esther O'Farrell (Brien), Sandi Whitefoot (Jona), Susie Everts (Mike), and her brother Ernie French, Jr. (Barbara). Grandchildren: Kyle (Kaye), Dusty (Kayla), Tiffani, Brenna, Dekker, Tabi and Sam. She lived with an unwavering faith and it was not uncommon for one of her family or extended family to call in the middle of the night for her to pray with them. Even in her last few hours, she was comforting us, saying how lucky she had been to have this life. Naming each of us by name and saying she loved us. It is we who are lucky for there is a huge hole where her physical presence was and we will fill it with the beauty of the legacy she leaves us. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Harrah Assembly of God, VBS (vacation bible school), PO Box 29, Harrah, WA 98933. Viewing will be held Friday, February 13 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Shaw & Sons. Private graveside services will be held at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. All welcome at the Celebration Service; Harrah Assembly of God, February 14 at 3:00 pm, as Sonny wanted to spend one last Valentine's Day with his gal.