Norman (Gene) Deckard, 83, passed away peacefully Jan. 11, 2022, at Liberty Hospital.

Gene was born Dec. 10, 1938, in Kansas City, MO to Lester and Gusta Deckard. He attended Park Hill High School and the University of Central Missouri. He was employed by Baxter Healthcare for 34 years.

He is a former member and deacon of the First Baptist Church of Excelsior Springs and currently was a member at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. He enjoyed serving as an usher and his involvement with his small group at PVBC.

Gene was a long-time resident of Excelsior Springs. He volunteered on the Parks and Recreation and Planning and Zoning committees for the city of Excelsior Springs. He also volunteered at the Good Samaritan Center. He was President of the Excelsior Springs Garden Club and a long-time member.  He was an active member of the Excelsior Springs Community Center. He enjoyed gardening, woodworking and collecting antiques. Gene’s engaging and optimistic personality was an encouragement to all those around him. His selfless nature was a true blessing.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Donald Jay Deckard; and half-brother, Lowell Vance Davis.

He will be dearly missed by his wife of 57 years, Anita Deckard; two daughters, Dana Chadwick (Lance) and Tonya Mitchell (Sam); four grandchildren, Bennett Chadwick, Evan Chadwick, Sam Mitchell, and Tessa Mitchell; niece and nephews; and many other family and friends.

There will be no formal visitation due to concerns about Covid, but a funeral service was held on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at 10 a.m. at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 1600 North 291 Highway, Liberty, MO 64068. A private, family graveside service was held following the funeral at Hillcrest Cemetery in Excelsior Springs, MO.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting gifts to Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 1600 North 291 Highway, Liberty, MO 64068; The Good Samaritan Center, 108 S. Thompson Avenue, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024; or Meet-The-Need, PO Box 130, Lawson, MO 64062.