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Submitted: 2/4/23 • Approved: 2/17/23 • Last Updated: 2/20/23 • R1469843-G1469843-S3
Buddy
June 1, 1929 - January 25, 2016
Marion
March 28, 1936 - April 7, 2015
Obituary
Jones Funeral Home
Crossett, Arkansas
William “Buddy” Leroy Deckelman, age 86, of Crossett, AR passed away
on January 25, 2016 at Stonegate Villa Health & Rehab. He was born
on June 1, 1929 in Calion, AR to his parents, Arthur and Helen Irene
Gardner Deckelman.
Leroy grew up in a large family with four sisters and four brothers. His
father built levees for the Corps of Engineers on the Mississippi River
and moved the family from one river town to the next from Virginia to
Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas.
The family settled in Fountain Hill in 1940 where Buddy’s mother’s
family, the Gardner’s were among the hardy pioneers that moved across
the country in covered wagons and settled the land in Ashley and Drew
counties.
Leroy served in the United States Air Force from 1948 to 1952 and
loved to tell stories from his days as a military police officer patrolling the
North African beaches of Casablanca.
He also enjoyed a long career working for the Crossett Company and
Georgia Pacific for 40 years receiving many awards during his years as
Safety Director.
He was also an avid historian who researched and wrote volumes of
family history and documentation about the Civil War “skirmish” at
Longview, AR where he and his family spent 50 years enjoying their
cabin on the Saline River.
He was also active in many community activities and was a member of
First Baptist Church.
Mr. Deckelman is survived by three children, Sharon Deckelman Mosley
and husband Scott of Little Rock, Joy Deckelman Roberson of Crossett
and William Leroy Deckelman, Jr. (Bill) of Annapolis, MD.
He is also survived by five granddaughters who loved spending
summers at the cabin filled with barge rides and fishing trips: Dayna
Mosley of Greeley, CO; Laura Deckelman Weissner (Matt) of Sterling,
VA; Emily Deckelman Nyaz (Charlie) of Upper Marlboro, MD; Katie
Deckelman of Churchton, MD; and Ilona Deckelman of Annapolis, MD.
He is survived by two sisters, Helen “Sissy” Wolfe (Frank) of Gillett,
Gloria Higginbotham of Pearl, MS; one brother, Thomas Deckelman
(Martha) of Odenville, AL; sisters-in-law, Mary Deckelman of Collierville,
TN, Gladys Lambert of Monticello, AR; and two great-grandsons, Ayden
Nyaz of Upper Marlboro, MD, Mason Weissner of Sterling, VA, as well as
many more nieces and nephews and a host of relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Marion Pierce
Deckelman; brothers, Conlyn Deckelman, Arthur Deckelman, Frederick
Deckelman; sisters, Emma Fay Deckelman Baxter and Maxine Garceau;
granddaughter, Margaret Roberson and a grandson, William Jarred
Deckelman.
He left behind many wonderful memories for all of us. We have been
blessed.
A private graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January
28, 2016 at Flat Creek Cemetery in Fountain Hill, Arkansas under the
direction of Jones Funeral Home of Crossett, AR. www.jonesservice.com
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at
the funeral home.
The family would like to thank the staff of Stonegate Villa Health and
Rehab.
Obituary
Jones Funeral Home
Crossett, Arkansas
Marion Louise Pierce Deckelman of Crossett, 79, died Tuesday, April 7,
2015. Born March 28, 1936, in Shreveport, Louisiana, she is survived by
her husband of 62 years, William Leroy Deckelman (Buddy), her three
children, Sharon Deckelman Mosley and husband Scott of Little Rock,
Joy Roberson of Crossett and William Leroy Deckelman, Jr. (Bill) of
Annapolis, MD.
She is also survived by five granddaughters who loved her dearly and
spent many summers with “Grand” at the family’s cabin at Longview on
the Saline River: Dayna Mosley of Greeley, CO; Laura Deckelman
Weissner (Matt) of Sterling, VA; Emily Deckelman Nyaz (Charlie) of
Upper Marlboro, MD; Katie Deckelman of Churchton, MD; and Ilona
Deckelman of Annapolis, MD. She is also survived by one sister, Sherry
Pierce McNabb (Ron) of Monroe, LA; brother Bill Pierce of Elm Grove,
LA; brother-in-law Simeon Wall of Shreveport, LA, and great-grandson
Ayden Nyaz of Upper Marlboro, MD, as well as many more nieces and
nephews and a host of relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Marion and Atlas A. Pierce;
her sister, Connie Wall; her brother, Arthur (Bub) Pierce; her
granddaughter Margaret Roberson and her grandson William Jarred
Deckelman.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Crossett, the Crossett
Book Club and her beloved coffee group. She was a joy to everyone
who knew her and she will be greatly missed by all.
A visitation will be held Friday, April 10, 2015 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
at Jones Funeral Home of Crossett. A private graveside service will be
held Saturday, April 11, 2015 at Flat Creek Cemetery in Fountain Hill,
Arkansas under the direction of Jones Funeral Home of Crossett, AR.
www.jonesservice.com
Contributed on 2/4/23 by deltabelle55
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Record #: 1469843