Ina Mae Vinyard

Ina Mae Vinyard Day died on June 18, 2022, at 93 years old. She was married for 55 years to her loving husband, Thurman Vinyard, who passed away in 2002. She enjoyed a long and full life as the mother to son, Michael Vinyard (Olga), who preceded her in death, and two daughters, Constance Mateo (Lonnie) and Kimberly Schutz (Larry), and nine grandchildren, Calista Peck (Morgan), Chris Vinyard, Stacy Vinyard (Mike Chandler), Dimitri Rudnev (Samantha), Brooke McGilray, David Schmitt (Shannon), Katie Kirkland (Tremayne), Joshua Mateo, and Justin Mateo (Janet).  She is also survived by 9 great-grandchildren ranging from 23 years to 10 months old. Mae worked 30 years at Federal locations: Tinker, Norton & McClellan AFB starting as a secretary and retiring as a Contract Manager.

Teaching herself to read at 4 years old, she always pursued a lifelong love of books, at times finishing several in a day. She graduated high school at 16, having shipped 2 grades, and became the teacher at 17, just as WWII ended. It was important to Mae to dress attractively and with flair. When she entered a room, she became the focal point.  It follows that she was also a skilled seamstress, making many of her daughters’ clothes, including beautiful Prom and wedding dresses. She always had a keen mind, with an avid thirst for keeping up-to-date with current events.  It was important she started each day with her morning newspaper.  She enjoyed the challenge of work, at a time when it was frowned on for mothers to work full-time; and yet, she managed to make her family be her first priority.  

Following her instructions to keep it simple, an outdoor funeral will occur in the pavilion at the Sylvan Cemetery, Citrus Heights, June 27 at 10 AM. Price Funeral Chapel in Citrus Heights is coordinating her burial services.

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