Decious, The Rev. Gaylon L.

The Rev. Gaylon L. Decious, 80, of Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, April 7, 2012, in his son's home surrounded by his family. Services: 4 p.m. Tuesday at Marion Christian Church, by the Rev. Peter Mitchell. Visitation will be Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home and after 3 p.m. Tuesday at the church. Inurnment will be at the Coggon Cemetery at a later date.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis B. Decious; his son, Gaylon M. and wife Becky L. Decious, and grandson, Christian L. Decious, of Cedar Rapids; his brother, Allen Decious; and sisters, Beverly Hopson and Karen Buhmann.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister, June Murry.

Gaylon was born May 2, 1931, in Linn County, Iowa, the son of Ernest and Marjorie (Merritt) Decious. He married Phyllis Halstead on Oct. 24, 1958, in Coggon. As a minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) he helped many as he served the Lord. He was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1967 at Marion Christian Church (his home church). He served as pastor in churches beginning with Gravette, Ark., in 1960, Prairie City, Iowa in 1961, Moulton and Udell, Iowa in 1962, Colfax, Iowa in 1967, then at Hope, Ark., (where he also served the regional church) in 1971, Maxwell-Collins, Iowa in 1975, Laurens, Iowa in 1980, Exira, Iowa in 1990, and retiring in Cedar Rapids in 1992.

The Rev. Gaylon was a wood carver bringing joy to many and was known as the “Penny Guy” at Lindale Mall, giving countless pennies for kids to throw in the fountain.

He will be greatly missed by his family and church friends.

Online condolences may be sent to www.cedar

memorial.com under obituaries.

Memorials may be made to Marion Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Published April 9, 2012 in The Gazette