Deke DeKAY IV

Deke passed away at his home in Healdsburg on October 6, 2012 with his wife of 34 years, Annie, at his side after a brief and courageous battle with colon cancer. He was 64 years old. Deke was dearly loved by many and will long be remembered for his good natured spirit, his ever present sense of humor, and the generous way he offered his time to help all who touched his life. He was a collaborator and his time belonged to everyone, whether he was at home, at the office or on vacation, and whether it was a connection to him that was brief or long, intermittent or consistent, close or casual, past or current, personal or public, family or friend, acquaintance or colleague. Deke grew up in Lafayette as one of three siblings and is survived by his father Chuck DeKay of Santa Rosa, brother Rick DeKay of Alameda and sister Kristin DeKay of Plymouth. Deke attended UC Berkeley and left to join with partners and start a foreign car mechanics shop in 1969. Later, Deke started a redwood burl furniture and gift manufacturing shop in Cloverdale in 1973 along with other partners. Then in 1981, he began a 31 year career as a real estate sales agent, dabbled in the rental market and eventually moved on to property rehabilitation, land development and subdivisions from our local area to Maine, New Hampshire, Arizona, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, always challenged by something else to do. Here in Sonoma County, Deke and his partner Diane Harris were recognized as top agents by their brokers over 8 times in the last 10 years. The idea of life in the Pacific Northwest manifested itself when friends bought a farm on Lopez Island, Washington in 1978 and also while Deke's Dad was entertaining business guests by providing fishing excursions to April Point Lodge on Quadra Island, BC, from 1986 to 1994. Many years of salmon fishing ensued. Deke's favorite spot became Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands of Washington State and in 1999 he and Annie bought property, built houses, and developed land, one of which became his favorite getaway. He learned boating and spent many hours on the Island Pearl traveling the waters of the Salish Sea and beyond into Canada, gunkholing, crabbing, shrimping, and fishing. Only a few days before he passed, Deke chose to help others by entering the Willed Body Program at UCSF. In addition, a memorial fund has been set up in memory of Deke. Donations will be used for gastrointestinal oncology research at UCSF. Checks payable to UCSF are accepted, writing "GI Oncology Research in Memory of Deke DeKay" on the memo line, and sent to UCSF c/o S. Krumholz, PO Box 45339, San Francisco, CA 94145-0339. Or online at http://makeagift.ucsf.edu . Select "other' and type in GI Oncology Research, then select "gift is in memory of Deke DeKay." Annie and family invite you to share your thoughts, memories and favorite stories about Deke by writing to annie.dekay@sbcglobal.net . Any and all will be welcomed and cherished. A private celebration of Deke's life will be held at a later date.