Mt. Vision, NY - MOUNT VISION - George Robert Decker of Mount Vision, born on Dec. 12, 1946 to Firman Decker and Lillian (Grosse) Decker, passed away peacefully on Nov. 22, 2025. George passed in the family home he grew up in, surrounded by family members. He was 78.

George was a storyteller who loved to joyfully recount past experiences, many of them funny, to his friends and family. He was raised lovingly by his mother after his father passed when George was 10 years old. His late older brothers, Firman, Richard, and Charles, assisted in his upbringing with their loving guidance. George graduated from Laurens Central School in 1964 as valedictorian. He then attended the University of Rochester for one year before returning home, becoming an apprentice, and later earning an electrician's certification. He was a proud member of his union IBEW, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and retired from his electrical contracting career as project manager. His life's work can be seen on many local buildings, the local college campuses and large construction initiatives across New York State. One of his largest projects was the construction of the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services complex, a high-tech hub in the hills of West Virginia that provides a range of state-of-the-art tools and services to law enforcement, national security and intelligence community partners.

He married the love of his life, Tanya Lois Timer, shortly after her high school graduation in 1967 and they settled in the Decker family home and rounded out their family with their children Paul George Decker and Barbara Jane (Decker) Pledger. George adored and was dedicated to his five granddaughters, Taylor (Decker) Bonney, Tierney (Decker) Ticknor, McKeyli Decker, and Lilyanna and Tanya Pledger. His great grandchildren, Hayven and Maddox, were near and dear to his heart.

George felt a very strong responsibility to his neighbors. He served his community over the years as a fire commissioner and member of the Laurens Town Board. Recently, he was celebrated and received an award for 60 years of volunteer service to the Mount Vision Fire Department. George was an avid outdoorsman; he loved fishing and hunting and had a genuine sense of gratitude and respect for the wildlife that helped feed his family. He spent many years organizing fundraisers for the local chapter of Ducks Unlimited, his favorite charity.

In addition to raising their children, Paul and Barbara, George and Tanya were seen affectionately as bonus parents to their children's friends. George mentored his nephew, the late Jerry Decker, his great nephew Nate Decker, and many young men in the community, most especially Dean and Dale Marble and Bill Barker, as well as members of the fire department. In addition to being survived by his wife Tanya, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, George is survived by his treasured in-laws, Jodi (Ostrander) Decker, David Pledger Jr, June (Newman) Decker, Travis Lowe, Dustin Bonney and Austin Ticknor, as well as many extended family and close friends.

Visitation will be held noon to 2 p.m., with a service at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 29, at Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta.

Donations in George's memory would be welcomed by the Mt. Vision Fire Department, 179 County Highway 11 B, Mount Vision, NY 13810 and the Laurens Emergency Squad, PO Box 164, Laurens, NY 13796.

Expressions of sympathy may be made at, www.lhpfuneralhome.com