Vincent Fernandez

Vincent Octavio Fernandez, son of the late Octavio Fernandez and Martha (Sheets) Fernandez was born on December 12, 1944 in Joliet, Illinois and departed his life on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at the age of 80 years.

He graduated from Lockport High School in Lockport, Illinois received his technical tradesman degree from Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Illinois. Vincent became one of the 1st of 25 hires at Proctor and Gamble in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He also opened and operated Oak Ridge Tool and Die with his partner and friend Olin Rush. He ended his professional career and retired from Blair Industries in Scott City. His passions were fishing and hunting. Mr. Fernandez took many fishing and hunting trips with family and friends. He was an avid winemaker, gardener, and arborist. Vincent was mechanically inclined and was able to read about or look at prints to construct, repair, or develop just about any project. He has 3 patents with the US Patent Service for a hog feeder, video tape holder, and a tomato cage. He was loved and respected by his family and enjoyed his time, trips, and get togethers. Vincent was always ready for a good card game with friends. He and his wife Karen enjoyed their time together taking fishing trips, traveling to relatives’, and taking various trips around the country, especially to Branson, Missouri. His was a life well lived. 

On August 3, 2018 he was united in marriage to Karen (Nichols) Becker. Mrs. Fernandez survives of the home in Scott City. 

Survivors include a son, Keith (Denise) Fernandez of Columbia, Missouri; one daughter, Kristin (Jeffrey) Dye of Jackson; two sisters, Argelia Graham and Melody Cronk both of Morris, Illinois; a stepson Steven (Bobbi) Becker of Glennallen, Missouri; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by Judith Patterson Fernandez and a brother, Ron Fernandez.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025 from 11:00 until 1:00 at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Scott City. Funeral services will then be conducted at 1:00 P.M. with Rev. Randy Morse officiating. Interment will follow in the Lightner Memorial Cemetery.