Norman Ray Vinyard, 69, of Bonne Terre died April 16, 2022, in Denver, Colo. Mr. Norman, who grew up in Festus and graduated from Festus High School, began his career in welding and later found his passion in over-the-road truck driving. He was also an EMT and a volunteer firefighter. He and his wife raised 10 children and fostered more than 60 children together. He had strong faith and was a member of Gospel Light Free Will Baptist Church in Bonne Terre. Born May 16, 1952, in St. Louis, he was the son of the late Floyd and Dorothy (Statzel) Vinyard.
He is survived by his wife: Collette Vinyard of Bonne Terre; 10 children: Sara (Doug) Karsch, Tyler, Blake, Hunter, Holley and Neveah Vinyard, all of Bonne Terre, Suzanne Vinyard of Cape Girardeau, Joseph (Alyson) Vinyard of Springfield, Sasis (Cheyenne) Vinyard of Park Hills and Victoria (Anthony) Knaup of Park Hills; five grandchildren: River Vinyard and Thatcher, Autumn, Gage and Addyson Karsch; four siblings: Tom Vinyard of DeSoto, Gary (Robin) Vinyard of Festus, Lisa (Gerry) Prockl of Watertown, Wis., and Angie Vinyard of Festus.
He was preceded in death by an infant brother: Mark Andrew Vinyard.
Visitation will be held from 2-6 p.m. Sunday, April 24 at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W Main St, in Festus. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, April 25, at the funeral home, officiated by the Rev. Larry Allison and followed by burial at Hall Cemetery in French Village. Memorials may be made to Gospel Light Free Will Baptist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.