John Decker

Clifton Mayor, John H. Decker,Jr., 68, passed away of an apparent heart attack on Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, November 27, 2013. Other members of the seven-member Clifton Town Council, whom The Copper Era was able to contact Wednesday evening, said they were either stunned, shocked or in total disbelief when they received the news from Town Manager John Schempf. He immediately began calling council members advising them of Johns sudden death. On Wednesday night The Copper Era spoke with friends and acquaintances that had seen or spoken with John earlier in the day. They said he showed no outward indications of appearing ill. Neither did he make any comments about not feeling well. They too, expressed shock and disbelief. Clifton Police Chief Andy Britton said police received a 9-1-1 call from the Decker home around 5 p.m. Officer Omar Negrete immediately responded. He and one of Johns sons began performing CPR. Greenlee County Ambulance Service paramedics quickly arrived at the scene and they continued efforts to revive Decker. Britton said the mayor was taken by ambulance to the Gila Health Center in Morenci where medical personnel continued efforts to revive him. They were unsuccessful. John was a U.S. Navy and Vietnam War combat veteran. He worked much of his life in construction and performed a great deal of work on the rehabilitation of privately owned buildings in the Chase Creek Historic District and was recognized in Arizona Highways Magazine. He served on the Town Council for at least a decade. He loved Clifton. He cared very deeply about the Clifton community. He cared about people, said Clifton Vice Mayor Felix Callicotte. Callicotte said he was stunned and in total disbelief when he learned of Johns death. I know were all going to miss him very much. He put his heart into doing his best for this town. John was very supportive of the police department, Britton said. He didnt hesitate to ask some hard questions if he felt it was necessary, but he strongly supported the department. He will definitely be missed. John is survived by the love of his life, Marie, son; Mark Decker, daughter; Mindi (Dale) Davis, stepdaughters; Donna Rodriguez and Karen (Justin) Nichols, stepsons; Shawn and Shane McCurdy, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and brothers Jim (Trudy) Decker, Bill (Naomi) Decker and Skip Pierce. A viewing will be from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 and starting at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 5th. with the funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. at the American Legion Lloyd C. Hill Post 28 in Clifton. Interment will be in the Wards Canyon Cemetery.