Corliss (Phillips) Decker

Corliss (Phillips) Decker, age 64, of Kendallville, passed away May 4, 2016 at her home.  Corliss was born in Bronte, Texas on January 16, 1952 the daughter of the late Homer Alton Phillips and Margaret Helen (Whitfield) Phillips.  Corliss was a long time employee of GTE Data Services in Fort Wayne, Indiana for 25 years before retiring in 1999.  In the years following her retirement, she pursued many interests such as stained glass art, china and porcelain painting, photography, gardening, cooking, and a deep love for nature and animals.  In 2001, the Indiana World Organization of China Painters implemented a project to paint a set of china as a gift to the state of Indiana.  Thirty, seven piece, place settings and thirty serving pieces were painted each with a different Indiana wildflower.  The finished china was presented to First Lady Judy O’Bannon at the IWOCP convention.  Later in the summer, Mrs. O’Bannon hosted a luncheon to recognize all the Indiana artists for this legacy.  Corliss was proud to be one of those artists.  She also painted numerous pieces for the annual Johnny Appleseed festival in Fort Wayne.  Corliss enjoyed volunteering for the Black Pine Animal Sanctuary in Albion as well as caring for her dogs, cats, geese, and horses all while enjoying the wildlife at her home near Kendallville.

She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Ronald Decker of Kendallville; a brother, Lynn Phillips of San Angelo, Texas; one aunt, 11 cousins, and two nephews.  

Graveside services and burial will take place at a later date at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens in San Angelo, Texas.  Memorial donations may be given to Black Pine Animal Sanctuary in Corliss’ name.  Arrangements by Hite Funeral Home of Kendallvillle.  Send a condolence at www.hitefuneralhome.com

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