Christopher Robert Decker (November 17, 1941 – August 8, 2015) was an English United Church clergyman, businessman and politician in

Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...

. He represented The Straits – White Bay North in the

Newfoundland House of Assembly The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is the unicameral deliberative assembly of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It meets in the Confederation Building in St. J ...

from 1985 to 1999. The son of Alan Decker and Leah Simms, he was born in

St. Anthony Saint Anthony, Antony, or Antonius most often refers to Anthony of Padua, also known as Saint Anthony of Lisbon, the patron saint of lost things. This name may also refer to: People * Anthony of Antioch (266–302), Martyr under Diocletian. Feast ...

and grew up in Roddickton. He attended high school in Roddickton and

Prince Of Wales College Prince of Wales College (PWC) is a former university college, which was located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. PWC merged with St. Dunstan's University in 1969 to form the University of Prince Edward Island. PWC traces its his ...

and went on to receive a BA from

Memorial University Memorial University of Newfoundland, also known as Memorial University or MUN (), is a public university in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, based in St. John's, with satellite campuses in Corner Brook, elsewhere in Newfoundland and i ...

and a

Master of Divinity For graduate-level theological institutions, the Master of Divinity (MDiv, ''magister divinitatis'' in Latin) is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America. It is the most common academic degree in seminaries and ...

from

Pine Hill Divinity Hall Atlantic School of Theology (AST) is a Canadian public ecumenical university that provides graduate level theological education and undertakes research to assist students to prepare for Christian ministries and other forms of public leadership. ...

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348 ...

. Decker served as a minister in various places in Canada. In 1967, he married Patricia Roberts. In 1972, Decker returned to Roddickton, where he operated several businesses and served two terms as mayor. He served as member and chair for the Strait of Belle Isle Integrated School Board and for the Vinland Integrated School Board. He also served on the Integrated Education Council for Newfoundland and Labrador. Decker was a member of the board of regents for Memorial University and served as chair from 2002 to 2003. Decker was elected to the Newfoundland assembly in 1985; he was reelected in 1989, 1993 and 1996. He served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Health, as Minister of Justice and Attorney General and as Minister of Education. After leaving politics in 1999, he worked as a consultant. Decker also published three books: * ''Gravel Pit Campers'' (2010) * ''Dissolution'' (2012) * ''By Right of Soil'' (2011) Decker died of cancer at the age of 73.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Decker, Chris 1941 births 2015 deaths Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador MHAs Members of the Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador Mayors of places in Newfoundland and Labrador People from St. Anthony, Newfoundland and Labrador Memorial University of Newfoundland alumni Ministers of the United Church of Canada Deaths from cancer in Newfoundland and Labrador