The Trigg County community is mourning the loss of long-time coroner and funeral home owner John R. Vinson III.
Vinson, who was 78, passed away Tuesday evening at Shady Lawn Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Following graduation from Trigg County High School in 1960, Vinson graduated from the Mid-America College of Funeral Service with a degree in mortuary science.
He ran for Trigg County coroner in 1965 and was elected with 77-percent of the vote. He was then unopposed in the next nine-county elections until 2002, when he was elected to his final term with 79-percent of the vote.
Vinson retired as coroner in 2006. His son, John Mark Vinson, was then elected corner and continues to serve in that capacity today.
The elder Vinson continued to serve as a deputy coroner in the years following his retirement.
Vinson was a long-time funeral director at Goodwin Funeral Home in Cadiz and bought the business from Chet Maxfield in 1992.
An avid outdoorsman, Vinson won many fishing tournaments in several different leagues and tours in the 1960s and 70s. He was also active in many civic groups and organizations.
Goodwin Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements to be announced later.
