Always dressed in Levis and a cowboy hat, 92-year-old Millie Decker has been a Malibu resident for most of her life. Millie and her family moved to the Decker Canyon area in the 1920s, before movie stars, McMansions and development, when PCH was little more than a dirt road. She never left. Millie grew up riding horses and competing in rodeos—in fact, she was the first woman in California to get a jockey’s license. Unlike other girls her age, Millie roped steers and was chased by mountain lions. She lived to raise a family, and now they are raising theirs within the Malibu Hills. Whether riding her horses through the hills, feeding and caring for her numerous animals, or cooking dinner for her large family, Millie Decker’s life has been something to behold.
What do you like most about living in Malibu?
The mountains, the lakes, the creeks, the trees, and the sunsets. Do I have to go on?
Why did you and your family move from Iowa to Malibu?
We initially came here for a school vacation. We stayed in a cabin so my father could train 30 young bloodhounds to hunt. He loved it so much that we moved to Mesa Ranch, and they (mother and father) died on Mesa Ranch.
What aspects of Malibu did you love growing up?
There were ranchers, and they helped one another when it came to branding, or vaccinating or ear marking. We were always with someone else. Either they would come over and help us or we would be over helping them. That was the old Malibu—everyone helped each other. We knew everybody around us very personally.
What inspired your family to start Trancas Riders and Ropers?
My daddy was always in clubs. He belonged to a Rodeo Association and the Santa Barbara Riding Club. He got a bunch of people together and started the organization so Malibu could have its own riding club.
What spurred your love and devotion for horses when you were younger?
My father, Percy Meek, used to put me on a horse and that was my babysitter. My daddy used to tell me that if I got un-balanced the horse would stop and try to rebalance me until daddy came over and straightened me up. I grew up on horses; they’ve always held a very special place in my life and in my heart.
How was your experience of having your portrait painted by Johanna?
She kept me laughing the whole time. She’s a happy-golucky person! I felt very comfortable around her. I’ve had a little bit of practice with the art world because my grandson asks me to host his art shows regularly.
The Face of Malibu is an ongoing series by portrait artist Johanna Spinks to record the many unique personalities and newsmakers who shape the modern Malibu community. Each sitter is always painted in a single live sitting. If there is someone you would like to nominate, please email associate editor Knowles Adkisson at knowles@malibutimes.com.
Johanna Spinks also teaches classes in portrait painting. She may be reached at johanna@johannaspinks.com or 310.384.7029.
