Whitney Decker spoke publicly for the first time about her daughters since the tragedy — a deeply emotional, unscheduled moment.
WENATCHEE, Wash. — In front of thousands mourning the loss of Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia Decker, their mother, Whitney Decker, spoke publicly for the first time about her daughters since the tragedy — a deeply emotional, unscheduled moment.
“You all look beautiful, and I know Evelyn would have loved to ooh and ah over all your outfits,” Decker said. “Paityn would have given each and every one of you a compliment.”
She described the sisters’ greatest gift as their ability to connect — through warm, open hearts.
“After my divorce, there were a lot of feelings flowing through my house — especially with three small, tiny women,” she said. “Through the girls’ time with some incredible therapists, we discovered the ‘three feelings.’ Paityn, of course, always had more than three. Evelyn would talk about her feelings one-on-one. Olivia was still working on how to describe her feelings — but she was always happy.”
Whitney Decker said her daughters encouraged her to be emotionally present as well. In their quiet moments together, she said, the world seemed to slow down.
“They were incredible,” she said. “I truly hope that the legacy of the girls’ lives lives in everyone’s heart.”
The memorial service was held Friday evening at Rocky Reach Park, Wenatchee. A range of family and community members spoke and performed in honor of the three girls.
The manhunt for their father, Travis Decker, verges on its fourth week. Authorities have charged him with the girls’ deaths and have continued a region-wide manhunt with no confirmed sightings since early June.
