Carmi Times Mon Nov 23, 2009 Carmi, Ill. - John Vernon Vinson, born March 16, 1929, in Junction, Ill., the son of William Raymond and Pearl Elizabeth (Zuck) Vinson, passed away peacefully Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009, at his home in Carmi. He was 80 years old. He worked in construction while serving in the United States Air Force as a staff sergeant. His work career included The Carmi Times and Security Rock Bits, a division of Dresser Industries, retiring after 30 years of service. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and hobbyist farmer. NASCAR racing and the St. Louis Cardinals were two of his favorite pastimes. A conservative Republican, many would say he held a doctorate in B.S. John was always there to put a smile or laugh in someone's life. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He married Mary Lou Harvey on Aug. 26, 1950. They were parents of two children, Teena Lou (Williams) and Jon Troy Vinson. John remarried on Feb. 28, 1975 to Lula May (Ackerman) Gentry. John became father to James Franklin Gentry, Debra Fay Woodard and Carl Ray Gentry. Survivors include his wife, Lula May Vinson of Carmi; three sons, James Gentry and his wife Laura of Mesa, Ariz., Jon Troy Vinson, and Carl Gentry and his wife, Deborah, all of O'Fallon, Mo.; two daughters, Teena Lou Williams and her husband, Richard, of Montgomery, Texas, and Debra F. Woodard and her husband, Fred, of Carmi; two brothers, George Vinson of Houma, La., and Paul Vinson of Washington State; a sister-in-law, Joyce Vinson of Carmi; one sister, Pearl Vickery of Oklahoma; 12 grandchildren, Adam Williams and his wife, Jesica, Natalie Williams, Eric Lindberry, Jennifer Lindberry, Katherine Woodard, Johnathan Woodard, Kayla Branham, Matthew Gentry, Andrew Gentry, Nicholas Gentry, Rebecca Gentry and Thomas Gentry; three great-grandchildren, Keira Williams, Cooper Williams and Leah Lindberry; and many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death are his parents, William and Pearl Vinson; his first wife, Mary Lou Harvey; and five brothers, Jim, Wayne, Bud, Charlie and Clarence Earl Vinson. Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009, at Cook Funeral Chapel in Carmi. The funeral is at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009, at Cook Funeral Chapel in Carmi. Burial with military rites will be in White County Memorial Gardens near Carmi. Memorials may be made to the Baptist Children's Home and will be accepted at Cook Funeral Chapel in Carmi. true Loading commenting interface...