571. Bonnie Darlene⁹ YOUNG (Laura Catherine⁸ VAN GUNDY, Robert Elmer⁷, Daniel William⁶, John⁵, David Jr⁴, David Sr³, Peter Sr², Male¹) was born in Mattoon, Coles Co, IL August 10, 1932.

She married James Wesley DECKER in Mattoon, Coles Co, IL, First Christian Church, December 23, 1951. James was born in Mattoon, Coles Co, IL July 9, 1930. At 22 years of age James became the father of Shelly Kay DECKER in Portsmouth, VA, March 12, 1953. At 25 years of age James became the father of Randal Lee DECKER in Mattoon, Coles Co, IL, April 26, 1956. At 27 years of age James became the father of Cynthia Lou DECKER in Mattoon, Coles Co, IL, June 22, 1958. At 33 years of age James became the father of Steven Ray DECKER in Mattoon, Coles Co, IL, August 28, 1963. He was a Gunner's Mate 2nd Class in the US Navy, serving in the Korean War. Residences: Mattoon, IL, where, in 1961, Jim obtained a job at Central Illinois Public Service, serving most of his time within the gas department. Effingham, IL. He was transferred by CIPS when promoted to Gas Utility Foreman, the position he held until retirement a few years later in 1993.

At 20 years of age Bonnie became the mother of Shelly Kay DECKER in Portsmouth, VA, March 12, 1953. At 23 years of age Bonnie became the mother of Randal Lee DECKER in Mattoon, Coles Co, IL, April 26, 1956. At 25 years of age Bonnie became the mother of Cynthia Lou DECKER in Mattoon, Coles Co, IL, June 22, 1958. At 31 years of age Bonnie became the mother of Steven Ray DECKER in Mattoon, Coles Co, IL, August 28, 1963. Bonnie was a teacher at the Mattoon High School for several years, then entered the real estate business as a broker and continued to work at that after retiring from the school system.

Bonnie Darlene YOUNG and James Wesley DECKER had the following children:

+ 672 i. Shelly Kay¹⁰ DECKER was born March 12, 1953.

+ 673 ii. Randal Lee DECKER was born April 26, 1956.

+ 674 iii. Cynthia Lou DECKER was born June 22, 1958.

675 iv. Steven Ray DECKER was born in Mattoon, Coles Co, IL August 28, 1963. The following article featuring Steve appeared in the newspaper: "Twenty-year-old Steve Decker felt a little funny with the eight women staring silently at him. A spotlight illuminated his face. The women, aged 16 to 44, coolly rated his eyes, his hair, his facial structure, his overall appearance. He said nothing. 'They just told me to sit there for five minutes or so, and then they made notes on you,' said the Mattoon resident, now a student at the Univeristy of Illinois. 'It was kind of strange. They had it in Garcia's, which is a pizza place here. They had a light--it was like drop-lamp--sitting on a table because the lighting was bad. It was shining into your face. It was like being grilled.' The eight obviously liked what they saw, because Decker became one of the dozen models for Midwest Portraits' newly published Double Take calendar featuring the men of the U of I. The 1984 calendar is to be the Midwest's answer to the nationally popular beefcake calendar featuring the men of the University of Southern California."

Send email to preparer: family@vangundy.net

Return to Table of Contents or Index

Go to Next Page

Submit comments and suggestions to B.J. VanGundy at bj@vangundy.net