Mary Jo Vinquist

Mary Josephine Vinquist, age 79, passed away January 31, 2026, peacefully at her home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

She was born in Evansville, Indiana on July 25th, 1946, to Gregory and Mary Louise Wooton.

Before meeting her husband of 57 years, Donald Vinquist, she worked for the VA volunteer service caring for WWI Veterans. Later while working for AT&T she met Donald. From there she became a dutiful housewife, who ran the home as Donald served his country in the military. After her children left home, she worked for the Okaloosa School Department learning center assistant.

As an Air Force wife Mary lived in Puerto Rico, South Carolina and Missouri before finally settling in Shalimar, Florida. However; of all the places she has been, her trip to Ireland was her most favorite place in the world.

Furthermore an opportunity to sing with her local community chorus at Carnegie Hall was her crowning achievement.

She is preceded in death by her parents: Mary Louise & Gregory Wooton, and her husband Donald Vinquist.

She is survived by her two children: Jason (Janet) & Adrienne (Alan) P.; granddaughters: Abby Vinquist & Evelyn Shultz; grandsons: Augustus Schultz & Ethan Vinquist; step-granddaughter, Jacquelyn Bunton; her brothers: Robert, Benard, & Michael Wooton along with numerous nieces and nephews.