Valeta Vineyard passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 15, 2022. Born during the Great Depression, she lived a full life and bore witness to the vast technological and social advances in the growth of our nation.

Valeta married her high school sweetheart, Jack Douglas Vineyard, on October 13, 1950. It was love at first sight. The story goes that he was the new boy in her 7th grade class and the moment she saw him she knew that they would one day marry. They became life partners in raising four children and building a successful family business, Vineyard's Auto Supply, in Ennis, Texas.

As a consummate 1950's housewife and mother of four she devoted herself to her family. She was a talented seamstress and creative artist, making many of her children's clothes and designing creative art projects for birthdays and other occasions. One memorable project was turning the family El Camino into Noah's Ark for a vacation bible school parade. She designed an elaborately detailed cardboard structure that attached to the sides and top of the car and filled the Ark with costumed children dressed as animals. It was brilliant!

Valeta had a deep passion for football, from her beloved Ennis Lions to the Dallas Cowboys and beyond. During football season she was at a football stadium or in front of the television watching college football almost every weekend. Her husband Jack had been a football star in high school and was awarded a college scholarship based on his talents. Their love of the game never faded.

She will also be remembered for her love of shopping and building themed collections of things she admired. These included antique dolls, Depression-era glassware, ceramic roosters and a host of beautiful crystal angels.

As a mother she was deeply devoted and eager to support her children and grandchildren in all their many endeavors. Her five siblings were a very important part of her life. She admired her older brothers Elbert and Amos, deeply loved her older sisters Martha and Jean, and simply adored her younger brother, Jerry.

Valeta is preceded in death by her beloved husband Jack Douglas Vineyard (2014), her parents Virgil and Amber (Parker) Jernigan, her brothers Elbert and Amos Jernigan, and sister Martha Warren. She is survived by her four children, son Greg Vineyard and his wife Linda of Ennis, her daughter Karla Vineyard of Ann Arbor, Michigan, son Brent Vineyard and his wife Norma of Waxahachie, and daughter Dana Cordsen and her husband Rod Cordsen of Austin, Texas.

Her grandchildren are Travis Hodges of Los Angeles, Tyler Hodges of Ann Arbor, Chris Cordsen and Kelly Cordsen Wirtz of Austin, David Vineyard of Ennis, Tracy Vineyard Krantz of Austin, and Kristy Malone of Waxahachie. Valeta is also survived by eight wonderful great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the J.E. Keever Mortuary Chapel of Ennis.

A Celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at 10 a.m. in the J.E. Keever Mortuary Chapel of Ennis with Rev. Mike McEuen of New Beginnings Bible Church of Ferris officiating. Graveside will take place at 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at Rose Hill Cemetery of Bells, Texas under the direction of J.E. Keever Mortuary, Inc.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her honor to the Alzheimers Association or to the charity of your choice.

Submitted by family