Kenneth Lee Decker passed away from heart failure peacefully and surrounded by family, on December 13, 2020, at the age of 74.

Ken is survived by his friend, companion, partner, and wife of fifty years, Lorraine Decker; his children, Caryn McGriff of San Diego, CA and Cameron Decker of Houston, TX; his mother, Wanda Decker, age 103 of Atlanta, GA; and his sisters, Donna Cruce of Marrietta, GA and Kay Schoonover of Dallas, TX. Ken is preceded in death by his father Willis Decker of Atlanta, GA.

Ken was born on April 9, 1946, in Oklahoma City, OK, to Willis M. and Wanda V. Decker. He was the middle child and only son, born to a hard-working and extremely loving family. Before graduating from S.H. Rider High School in Wichita Falls, TX, Ken traveled to Argentina. That trip began a sixty-year, deep, close, and loving bond with four generations of his Argentinian family, who dearly miss him.

In 1969, Ken graduated from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Washington, DC, and returned to Austin, Texas, where he married Lorraine Ross in August of 1970. They then traveled to Bologna, Italy where he studied at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (‘71). Following a honeymoon year in Europe, they moved back to Austin, where Ken served as the International Trade Director for the Texas
Department of Agriculture and attended the University of Texas Graduate School of Business. In 1976, Ken and Lorraine moved to Houston, where he worked for Arthur Anderson, LLP, rising to Tax Manager. In 1981, Lorraine persuaded Ken to join Decker & Associates and launch Decker Financial, his international tax practice. They worked together, traveling to forty-eight countries, providing employer-sponsored financial workshops and personal counseling to thousands of families.

Following 9/11, the couple expanded their focus and co-founded two non-profits: Financial Mentors of America and Skills For Living. Both organizations are dedicated to teaching families how to plan and create amazing futures. Every summer, Ken would organize and emcee the Game of Real Life, a three week event held at Rice University, the University of Houston, and the George R. Brown Convention Center to help 1,200 underserved high school students visualize a dynamic future. Hundreds of volunteers joined Ken to play the Game. Later, as President of Decker & Associates, Ken published Real Life Financial Mathematics and partnered with 50+ Texas school districts to train teachers on the new curriculum. Since 2017, more than 12,000 Texas high school students have taken this one-year, critical-thinking, problem-solving, and life-changing financial planning course.

Ken was an active member of local, state, and national professional organizations and held credentials as a Certified Public Accountant, Personal Financial Specialist, and Certified Financial Planner. He was a life-long member of the Houston Committee on Foreign Relations, an officer and speaker at many Houston CPA Society events, and an award winner of the Profit Sharing and 401(k) Council of America. Other professional memberships included: Texas CPA Society, American CPA Society, Houston Estate and Financial Forum, and Financial Planners Association of Houston.

While working and traveling, Ken and Lorraine joyfully shared their lives with their two children, Caryn and Cameron. Ken’s children remember him as a loving father who encouraged them to pursue their goals and dreams, be kind and generous to others, make a difference in the world, and cherish family. He was a trusted friend, advisor, mentor, and confidant to his children. They will forever treasure their loving memories of their father and miss him always.

Ken’s life was lived with purpose, hope, and a belief he could and should make a difference. He sacrificed his “bucket list” to help others create their futures. He represented the goodness that can exist in the world -- a world he loved to explore and experience, especially his favorite places: Argentina, the Texas hill country, summers with family on the Gulf coast, and the Cayman Islands.

Ken was strong, determined, generous, and witty. His smile was contagious. He actively pursued knowledge by reading books and dozens of subscriptions, traveling the world, watching documentaries, and having thoughtful and cheery conversations with friends. Shopping at Costco, playing tennis, and listening to Andrea Bocelli, Journey, Wicked (Dancing Through Life), Meatloaf, and NPR all brought him joy. He loved watching Sherlock Holmes, Sharpe, Death in Paradise, and British TV mysteries. Spending time with his cats, Domino and Snow, and his granddog, Isabella, gave him great pleasure. Ken was a natural leader who valued family, friends, and our country. He touched the lives of thousands and made a positive impact on every person he met. We will miss him every day and pray he will guide and watch over us.

A celebration of Ken’s incredible life will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Financial Mentors of America (10655 Memorial Dr Houston TX, 77024 or www.financialmentors.org) and share your memories and photos of Ken on the digital memorial board.

https://www.millerfuneral.com/obituaries/Kenneth-Lee-Decker?obId=19403888#/obituaryInfo