Phyllis Stewart Decker

Phyllis Stewart Decker, a nationally-ranked tennis player who tirelessly promoted tennis, the arts, and other civic causes in Wichita, Kansas for many decades, passed away peacefully October 10 in her home at Larksfield Place Assisted Living in Wichita, where her late father, Verne Vance, had died 31 years ago. She was ten days shy of her 91st birthday. Phyllis was an accomplished athlete, particularly in tennis, where she held a high national ranking in the under-18 junior girls category. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, in her last year as a junior player, she won all of that city’s championships for which she was eligible, including junior and women’s singles and doubles, and mixed doubles in both age categories. While still a junior, she played in the national junior championships and, with her partner Ben Bishop, in the national mixed doubles championship. In that tournament Decker (nee Vance) and Bishop were eliminated by Jerry De Witts and Maureen Connelly, who was at that time the reigning women’s singles champion. After Phyllis married her first husband, the late Dr. Jack Stewart, where they met at Washington University, St. Louis, MO, they moved to Wichita. She became an important figure on the Wichita tennis scene as player, coach, tournament organizer, and tireless promoter of tennis as an enjoyable form of exercise for a lifetime. Her principal example was her father, who won the Vermont men’s 85 and over championship at Stowe and played until he was 88. Mrs. Decker won many city and state titles and held high rankings by the Missouri Valley Tennis Association. In her fifties and sixties she was ranked number one among senior women. As player, coach, and organizer Phyllis promoted tennis at the Wichita Country Club for many years. In 1975 she and Dr. Jack were founding members of the Wichita Racquet Club on Rock Road, which has become the preeminent facility (now Genesis) in the Wichita area for playing and promoting tennis. Phyllis played a central role in the development and success of that facility. In addition to her work in promoting tennis, Phyllis was involved in many other important civic activities, particularly in education and the arts. She served on the boards of Lifeline, Wichita Symphony Decorator Showhouse, Music Theater of Wichita, while also participating and volunteering with Junior League, Investment Clubs, Book clubs and numerous other organizations throughout her lifetime making many good and dear friends. One year of volunteering she was chosen to host Monte Hall host of “Lets Make a Deal” TV show when he was in town for an event and was his chauffeur for the day. After family, friends, music, and tennis she loved sports! Watching football was one of her favorites - always having an opinion as to what play they should be making, and of course Nebraska football was in her blood from childhood! In addition to sports Phyllis was an avid and competitive bridge player (all children of the bridge gals knew to not interrupt when in the heat of a bridge game for any reason), friend and rock solid mother and grandmother who supported her children and grandchildren in all their adventures tirelessly. Loved dearly by her large extended family and countless friends, her love for life, competitive spirit, warm heart and wonderful sense of humor will be remembered by many for years to come. Phyllis Decker was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on October 20, 1933. Her father was an attorney and her mother was a teacher and social worker. She graduated from Benson High School in Omaha, Nebraska, where she was a high school state tennis champion, and attended Washington University of St. Louis for three years. In 1953 she married Dr. Jack Stewart, a prominent Internist, specializing in Cardiovascular Disease in Wichita. They traveled regularly to the Caribbean, specifically St. Johns Island, for many years until his death from cancer in 1982. In 1984 she married Dr. Jay Decker, a professor of music at Wichita State University and an associate conductor of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. She shared his love of music and was very active in promoting the Wichita Symphony, the Wichita Music Theater, Youth Orchestra and music and arts education in schools. The Deckers travelled extensively to all parts of the world and to over 25 countries, many of which Dr. Decker served as a guest conductor of music until his death in 2017. Survivors of Phyllis Decker include her two daughters, Kimberly Coe (Kevin) and Kelley Naron of Wichita; grandchildren, Jenifer Coe, Jason Coe (Trina), Drew Naron (Maddie), Jack Naron; stepdaughters, Dana Knorr (Patrick) of Lawrence, Kansas, and Debbie Gans (Ron) of Green Mountain Falls, Colorado; a step daughter-in-law, Debbie Decker (Jay Daniel “Dan” Decker, deceased) of Seabrook Island, South Carolina; step-grandchildren, Alyson (Russ) Bush, Jessica (Chris) Hanke, Ashley (Steve) McCaskill, Kellie (Kyle) Costanza, and Griff Gans; a sister-in-law, Kathe Decker Thompson of Delta, Colorado; a beloved cousin, Virginia “Ginny)” Jorgensen of Blaine, Washington; a brother, Verne Vance of Arlington, Virginia; 3 step great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. Preceded in death by her parents, Verne and June “Joy” Vance; husbands, Dr. Jack Stewart (1982), Dr. Jay Decker (2017); step-son, Jay Daniel “Dan” Decker (2022). A celebration of life for Phyllis will be held by the family in May of 2025 at Birch Bay, Washington, which was the “happy place” for the Deckers out of the many places they visited on their extensive travels. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the charity of your choice or to any of the following:Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516Kansas Humane Society, 3313 N. Hillside, Wichita, KS 67219American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741Wichita State University School of Music, Jay C Decker Scholarship Fund, c/o WSU Foundation, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0002Larksfield Place Assisted Living, 2727 N Rock Road, Wichita, KK 67226 The family would like to thank Larksfield Place Assisted Living for their wonderful attentive staff and caretakers as well as Phoenix Home Care & Hospice who added important additional support, staff, and caretakers for Phyllis and the family.