A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 2 at Oaklawn Memorial Park, 421 N. Sierra Avenue, Oakdale, for Alan Lee Vinyard, 56, of Ceres. He died April 14, 2009 at his home following a brief illness.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Born Dec. 19, 1952, Alan was born in Tahlequah, Okla., the youngest of three children of Alvin L. and Verna L. Vinyard. He moved to Ceres in 1955 and attended Caswell Elementary School, Ceres High School and Modesto Junior College. Mr. Vinyard professionally refinished furniture and specialized in custom old furniture. Known for his quirky sense of humor, Alan enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed listening to classic rock and other kinds of music and was known to friends as "Freddie King."

He laves behind a brother, James R. Vinyard of Ceres. He was preceded in death by sister Christine E. McKnight Vinyard and his parents.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to assist with costs of the burial at any Wells Fargo Bank branch. Checks should be made out to James R. Vinyard for deposit into the Alan Vinyard Acct. 5687646496.

-Ceres (Calif.) Courier /April 22, 2009