On December 18th, 2025, John Edward “Ed” Decker Jr. went on to his heavenly reward. He passed away peacefully at the age of 90, surrounded by his family. While our hearts are broken, we are also filled with gratitude for his life, his faith, and the many years God graciously gave us together. Ed was the definition of a life well lived!
Born to John Edward Sr. and Anne Decker on November 25th, 1935 on a farm in upstate New York, Ed enjoyed an adventurous childhood, along with his two sisters Nancy and Judy. He grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey and graduated from Leonia High School in 1953. He attended university in Utah where he married his first wife and they had 5 children: Cindy Lou, John III, Jeffery, Jennifer and Stephanie. During this time he was actively involved in the Mormon church. Following a divorce, Ed moved to California.
Ed met his wife Carol in California and they were married in 1969. They moved to Washington state in 1972 and their son Jason was born in 1973. A couple years later Ed became a born again Christian and left the Mormon church. This pivotal moment in his life was the beginning of his ministry, Saints Alive in Jesus, formerly known as Ex-Mormons For Jesus. Ed and Carol lost their daughter Julie to premature birth in 1975 and their son Joshua was born in 1977.
For over 50 years, Ed faithfully served in Christian ministry. His love for people was unmatched, and his life reflected a sincere devotion to God. He authored 13 books, wrote hundreds of pamphlets, and through his preaching and teaching, led countless thousands to experience the saving grace of Jesus. More than his testimony or accomplishments, Ed often said he hoped to be known simply as someone who pleased God. From the moment he encountered Jesus, he lived with a zeal and surrender that shaped everything he did.
While Ed is most well known for his Christian apologetics work that specialized in helping Mormons and Freemasons, his second ministry was as a pastor. Ed served as an associate pastor at City Church with Pastor Wendell Smith and in Palm Desert at The Upper Room with Pastor Doc Suess. He had a heart to serve his pastors, and lead Bible Studies and men’s groups.
Ed delighted in life’s simple joys: loving Jesus, his wife and family, church, helping others, travel, fishing and the outdoors, hot tubs, ice cream, maple bars, pasta, white wine, baseball hats, western novels and movies, Seahawks football, winters in the Palm Springs desert area and summers in the Pacific Northwest. These were the everyday pleasures that reflected his warmth, humor, and appreciation for God’s creation.
In recent years, we were blessed with precious time together. In 2021 Ed and Carol made their home in the Pacific Northwest after many cherished years spent in the Southern California Desert. Following a stroke in the Spring of 2024, Ed was placed into Hospice care. With the daily support of his family, he was able to stay at home until the week of his passing. Ed was given only a few months to live at the time of his stroke, but battled through with a positive attitude, living more than a year longer than was estimated. Even until the very end, he was full of life, laughter, and love.
Ed leaves behind a remarkable family legacy: his beloved wife of 56 years, Carol; eight children; ten grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Family was central to who he was, and his love for each of them was constant and steady. He is preceded in death by his daughter Julie (1975), sister Judy (1990), father, John (1992), mother Anne (2003), sister Nancy (2009), and his daughter Cindy (2024).
Per Ed’s wishes, there will not be a traditional funeral service. Instead, there will be a celebration of life on February 28th in Redmond, Washington.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ed’s ministry. Contributions will help continue the work he loved so dearly and provide for Carol.
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A new book will be available at the time of his celebration, called “The Life of Ed” which is a book that Ed has worked on for the past 5+ years. More information will be made available on the website.
The Ministry of Saints Alive in Jesus will continue to provide free material to people around the world. Your continued support and donations will help us provide Ed Decker’s lifetime of works for free on this website in perpetuity. We believe that by doing so, many more thousands will find the truth and come to know the TRUE Jesus as their Lord and Savior! Thank you for your support!
