In Loving Memory of Craig Decker

November 22, 1982 – 7/5/2008

It is with tender feelings that family and friends bid farewell to our beloved Craig, who died while sailing with his parents at Utah Lake.

Craig Hammond Decker, 25, was born November 22, 1982 in Murray, Utah to Lyle and Marie Decker. He was a vibrant young man who was loved and respected by the many people whose lives he touched.

An Eagle Scout, he graduated from West Jordan High in 2001. He and Mark Hendricks were Drum Majors of the school’s award winning marching band where he learned to inspire and lead with love. His loving leadership continued as he served as a missionary and branch president in the Argentina Neuquen mission, as a youth counselor for EFY, and as a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In Jan. 2007 he lost his right hand in a fireworks accident. He said, “I will not be a victim.” Two days later he returned to his studies at BYU in Neuroscience. Craig overcame his trials with optimism and ingenuity, and continues to be an inspiration to many people through his YouTube videos under “captaindanger384.”

In spite of personal difficulties he sought to bring love, light, laughter and faith to more people than ever imagined. His life was an active expression of his faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ. His written personal goals were:

1.People are always more important.
2.Do what you need to do when you need to do it whether you want to or not.
3.I am not a victim, ever.
4.Purity is power.
5.Leave it better than when you found it.
6.Life is a joy, a journey in becoming like my Heavenly Father.
7.Live with purpose.









http://www.craig-decker.com/

Memory Game

1. As a comment on this post, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses.

If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.And if you're just a "lurker" that I don't know very well, please use this as an excuse to comment and say hello!

DAY TWO : Kirtland, Ohio

That morning I was woken up by something being stuck in and out of my ear and sliding across my face... of course it was my grandpa. At the end of his cane he had a string tied to it for him to put his hand in. Well he thought that it was very funny to keep on letting it touch my face because I would try to swish it away. Well I was getting very mad because it was much to early for me to be awake... so I told him that if he didn't stop I was going to take it off of his cane and he was never going to see it again. Well he just laughed and said then you'll just get my dirty sock rubbed in your face tomorrow morning. And kept on letting that stupid string go across my face until I finally got out of bed... later that day I took the string off of his cane and hid it in my bag...

We had a nice continental breakfast and then went and got ready and started to pack up everything. When we were packing our bags Jonah was playing on the cart and when we tried to take him off so that we could load our bag he would cry so we ended up putting him on top of everything and pushing him around. Once we were outside my mom made me get on with him and they push us around the parking lot. After playing around on that for a while we loaded everything into the car and headed off to go see some church sights.

Our first stop was at the visitor’s center in Kirtland, Ohio. We then went to the Kirtland Temple, which is currently owned by the Community of Christ (formerly known as the Reformed LDS church). It was such a beautiful building!!

For dinner that night we went to an Amish town and ate that Mary Yoder's diner, it's an Amish restaurant in Middleton, Ohio. My mom and I were very disappointed when we found out that not only did they have electricity. But they had the bathrooms with the potty’s that flush by themselves and the sinks that turn on and off and the paper towels that come out when you wave your hand in front of them. But despite all of that the dinner was sooo yummy!!! I mostly just ate bread with peauntbutterhoney!!! Oh my sooooo good!!! :)

That night we slept in a cabin at a KOA somewhere by Niagara Falls!

DAY ONE : Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

MAY 9TH- (HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAREN!!!)

So after staying up pretty much all night making sure that we had everying ready, me my mom, dad, grandpa, and Brother Jonah caught the 6 a.m. flight to Cleveland, Ohio. I was so excited to go on the airplane but I was totally freaking myself out about it. It turned out to not be as bad as I was making myself think it was. And I actually enjoyed it a lot!!

Our first stop was in Dallas, Texas. We mostly just walked around, got some food and watched Jonah play on some toys in the kid’s area. This was one of the nicer airports. But it was very crowded!!!
When we finally landed in Cleveland it was about 3:30 p.m. (we had lost 2 hours). We picked up our rental car and started our drive to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. To the Davidson’s house (they are a young family that used to live in our basement). On our way there we picked up a pizza and it was probably the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life!!!

So when we got to the Davidson’s we just sat around and talked about everything that has happened in the past 4 years. And darling little Collin played the violin for us. Wow, I was so impressed by him! Then he showed off his magic tricks and his pro baseball skills!! When everyone was getting ready for dinner Malia and I played Tea party. She is the cutest little girl ever!! After dinner and talking a little bit more Leanne put her kids to bed and we broke out the junk food and cards.

That night we slept in a very nice hotel that was somewhere between their house and Kirtland!