With her son and daughter by her side, Delores L. Brockway (Decker) died at home on Monday, April 12, 2021. She was born on Oct. 19, 1934.
When Delores and her husband moved to Willows in 1958, they had two sons, Jack and Jim. Delores worked at Daughtrey’s Department Store on Tehama Street.
In 1961, Delores had a daughter named Debra. Delores and Don had three businesses at three different locations at different times.
Two of the businesses were Murphy’s Tavern on Tehama Street, and Dee’s Tavern on Butte Street. That’s where she got her nickname, Dee.
During this time, Debra’s dad played music and would play at the bar with some local friends. Then the boys learned to play the guitar and drums, so they played with Don and Delores would get up and sing, “Are You Mine”.
Daughter Debra just loved that song. “They were so awesome,” she recalls.
Delores could do the Jitter Bug better than anyone Debra had ever seen. Delores was involved in pool tournaments and shuffle board tournaments on Friday nights.
Delores would make tacos and everyone would show up because she made the best and she could cook chicken. If you ate it the next day, it was just like she just cooked it.
She would have bean feeds at the bar or parties at the lake with loud music. She always collected the keys to keep anyone from driving home.
She loved fishing, camping, bingo and the casino. But most of all, she loved her whole family.
She also really loved to watch The Ranch, Sling Blade, O Brother Where Are Thou? and Fried Green Tomatoes.
“My Momma, Delores, is my best friend and the best mother anyone could ask for,” her daughter, Debra says. “She was my best friend. I love you, Mama.”
She is survived by her sons, Jim and Jack Decker; daughter Debra Maddox; and more grandchildren and great-grandchildren than you can count. She was preceded in death by her husbands Don Decker and Al Brockway; her parents; her sister; her brother; and two grandchildren.
She will be missed by all who knew her.
The Glenn County Observer 