Betty was born in Shreveport, LA, on March 28, 1929 to Thelma Grace and Joe Perkins. She graduated from Leesville High School, Leesville, LA, in 1946. She then worked as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell until she retired as a sales representative.
After her husband Bill's death, from complications of Alzheimer's disease in 1985, she founded the local Temple support group for Alzheimer's caregivers, which she led for 27 years. She became very close to many of the caregivers and their families. She also became a strong supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center after her son, Jimmy, lost his battle with Non- Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. William H. "Bill" Decker (1985), her only son, James Douglas "Jimmy" Cleveland Jr. (2005), her two younger sisters, Margie P. Abbott (2003), and Peggy M. Tuck (2014), and her mother, Thelma Grace Montiville (1981).
After her husband Bill's death, from complications of Alzheimer's disease in 1985, she founded the local Temple support group for Alzheimer's caregivers, which she led for 27 years. She became very close to many of the caregivers and their families. She also became a strong supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center after her son, Jimmy, lost his battle with Non- Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. William H. "Bill" Decker (1985), her only son, James Douglas "Jimmy" Cleveland Jr. (2005), her two younger sisters, Margie P. Abbott (2003), and Peggy M. Tuck (2014), and her mother, Thelma Grace Montiville (1981).
Betty was born in Shreveport, LA, on March 28, 1929 to Thelma Grace and Joe Perkins. She graduated from Leesville High School, Leesville, LA, in 1946. She then worked as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell until she retired as a sales representative.
After her husband Bill's death, from complications of Alzheimer's disease in 1985, she founded the local Temple support group for Alzheimer's caregivers, which she led for 27 years. She became very close to many of the caregivers and their families. She also became a strong supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center after her son, Jimmy, lost his battle with Non- Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. William H. "Bill" Decker (1985), her only son, James Douglas "Jimmy" Cleveland Jr. (2005), her two younger sisters, Margie P. Abbott (2003), and Peggy M. Tuck (2014), and her mother, Thelma Grace Montiville (1981).
After her husband Bill's death, from complications of Alzheimer's disease in 1985, she founded the local Temple support group for Alzheimer's caregivers, which she led for 27 years. She became very close to many of the caregivers and their families. She also became a strong supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center after her son, Jimmy, lost his battle with Non- Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. William H. "Bill" Decker (1985), her only son, James Douglas "Jimmy" Cleveland Jr. (2005), her two younger sisters, Margie P. Abbott (2003), and Peggy M. Tuck (2014), and her mother, Thelma Grace Montiville (1981).
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