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DECKER -- Diana Decker of Edgewood, NM passed away from breast cancer on July 15, 2008 in Albuquerque, NM. She was born August 7, 1963 in Fort Sill, OK, where her father was stationed in the Army. Her parents moved back to Albuquerque later that year. She grew up in Albuquerque, graduated from Valley High School in 1981, and participated in a women's soccer league after high school. Diana was employed by the Albuquerque Journal for 22 years. She moved to the East Mountain area in 1999. Diana became interested in training dogs early in life, starting in 4-H. She was very successful in the Obedience ring and Agility Arena. In 1992, she began training her Australian Shepherd, Suzy, to work cattle, sheep, and ducks and received her first Working Trial Champion. She loved her dogs like they were her children, and her training talents led to many titles and championships on Australian Shepherds, Australian Kelpies, Border Collies and other herding breeds. She was nationally known for her skill in training dogs and teaching other dog handlers to train their dogs to work stock. She became an accomplished dog handler in the United States Border Collie Handlers Association, Australian Shepherd Club of America and American Kennel Club trials. She was a judge in the American Herding Breeds Association and judged many trials. She also qualified dogs for the National Stockdog Finals, placing her dogs in the top ten in the nation. Her training led to travel to Canada and to Western Australia in 2006. Being the first American Handler to visit Australia, she conducted a stockdog training clinic and taught private lessons. She also visited several Australian sheepdog contests. This was her life's passion. Diana loved all animals as evidenced by the variety at her home. She was an expert on geese, ducks, chickens, and other fowl. Many people came to her home to work sheep, cattle, and ducks in her facilities. Diana is survived by her life partner, Robert Campbell; her father, Darrell Decker and wife Patti; her mother, Geneva Faus and husband Robert; sister, Dewette Decker; brothers, Darren, Dane, her other brother, Ryan Morris, her other sister, Brittini Gabaldon, and numerous relatives, friends and her beloved working dogs. Numerous friends across the United States and Australia will deeply miss her. That'll do, Diana Decker, good job. Friends and relatives are invited to a pot luck Memorial Celebration of Diana's life to be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 19, 2008 at the Immanuel Southern Baptist Church in Estancia. The church is located on the North end of Estancia, on the East side of Highway 41. It is a white building with a red roof. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Diana Decker to the Albuquerque Animal Humane Society or the Central New Mexico Affiliate Susan G. Komen for the Cure, PO Box 30047, Albuquerque, NM 87190. Diana would prefer casual dress. Her remains were cremated.
        Published on: Sat July 19, 2008