Raymond Joseph Ems, 86, of Festus

Raymond Joseph Ems, 86, of Festus died Dec. 20, 2025, at Crystal Oaks Nursing Center in Festus. Mr. Ems was a retired Buchheit store associate, a member of Our Lady Catholic Church in Festus and the Knights of Columbus Council 1230. He was a former member of Rock Community Fire Association and Hematite Fire Protection District boards. Born July 14, 1939, in Arnold, he was the son of the late Gertrude (Zieglemeyer) and Walter Ems. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Marie (Duro) Ems.

He is survived by children: Stacy Ems of Festus, Steven (Stephanie) Ems of St. Clair, Evelyn (Rob) Lower of Imperial and Stanley Herman (Maei) Duing of De Soto; siblings: Marion (the late James) Zebas of Imperial, Geraldine (the late Homer) Ross of Hillsboro, Earl (the late Cathy) Ems of Ware and Kenneth (Jane) Ems of Arnold; grandchildren: Janene (Adam) Berry, Shannon (David) Jara, Garrett (Shelby) Ems, Logan (Jill) Ems, April Davis, Sara Davis, Kenneth (Jamie) Davis, Josef (Sarah) Duing, Michaela Duing, Mitchell (Ashley) Duing, and great-grandchildren: Adalyn, Alivia, Jameson, Oceanna, Aristotle, Annie, Emberlie and Barrett.

He was also preceded in death by a daughter: Edna Irene Davis.

Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 29, until the funeral service at 1 p.m. at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St. in Festus, officiated by Pastor Terry Crank. Interment will follow in Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Arnold. Memorials may be made to Hillsboro Food Pantry. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home in Festus.