Small Town News

Nancy Decker San Carlos

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Nancy Decker San Carlos, of Issaquah, a tireless advocate for services for disabled people, died Aug. 27. She was 75.

A memorial service is 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4 at the Issaquah Senior Center Nancy was born April 16, 1934, in Jersey City, N.J., the daughter of Anne and Ed Decker, longtime Issaquah residents. She was raised in Upstate New York and New Jersey, and then lived in Issaquah for the past 30 years.

She graduated from Snyder High School, in Jersey City, N.J., in 1951 as the class valedictorian. She graduated cum laude from State University of New York in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts. She was also valedictorian in her eighth-grade class.

Among the many organizations, too numerous to list over her lifetime, she was active as a member of the Washington State Governor's Committee on Disabilities, American Civil Liberties Union, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 5th District Democrats, precinct committee leader and a Washington State Reform Schools volunteer.

She was founder and director of Self Esteem for Handicapped Persons in Prison and was a longtime advocate for the handicapped in the state prison system, and she worked tirelessly on their behalf in a prison system not designed for people in wheelchairs.

In her spare time, she did volunteer work with disabled prisoners, taught English to Chinese seniors, was an avid political activist and loved registering new voters.

Her family remembers her as being passionate about her family, beliefs and many causes.

She is survived by her brother Ed Decker (Carol); her sons John Loori and David Loori (Rita); three granddaughters; and a great-grandson. Nancy was also loved by her many nephews and nieces and their families.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Anne and Ed Decker, and her sister Judy.

Memorial donations may be made to Angel Tree Prison Ministry, P.O. Box 1550, Merrifield, VA 22116-1550 or the charity or your choice.

Nancy fought her battle against cancer for almost a decade, just as she did everything else, with passion and determination. Finally, with everything in order, she closed her eyes and peacefully slipped away to heaven.

Issaquah residents will remember Nancy from her many letters to the editor of The Press, her political banners being waved from her electric scooter at the corner of Sunset Way and Front Street during every election or her picketing of the new U.S. Post Office on Gilman Boulevard until it installed automatic doors that disabled people could use to gain entry.

Nancy was also a regular at every Salmon Days with her register to vote booth.

Her interest in prisoner needs and conditions stemmed from her early career position of om-budswoman for the New York State Prison at Napanoch, N.Y.

The family would like to acknowledge Gentlecare Adult Family Home in Bothell, for the loving and wonderful care Nancy received the last six months of her Me.



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© 2009 The Issaquah Press Issaquah, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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