Vincent Fernandes

Vincent James Fernandes, 76, a navigational repairman for the Montana Air National Guard, professional musician and US Air Force Veteran of Great Falls died on February 1, 2013 at a local hospital of natural causes.His funeral liturgy will be at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on Monday, February 11, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.Vincent was born November 12, 1936 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was raised in Hawaii and Sonora, California and graduated from Sonora Union High School.He married Margie Oliveira in Sonora and from this union; they had three daughters who live in Hawaii. They were later divorced. He then married Judy Lemrick in Las Vegas and had a son; they were divorced. He met Peggy Peck and after many years, were married in 2007.Vince enlisted in the US Air Force in 1955, and worked in the security system. His assignments included duty at the White House under President Kennedys administration. After President Kennedy was assassinated, he was on Air Force One as President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in. From there, he served in the Pentagon, Vietnam and at Travis AFB in California. Following his discharge, he spent several years in Las Vegas performing as a professional musician for many different celebrities. According to his oldest daughter, Mary Louise, he played percussion and drums for the Turtles. He appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, playing drums with the Jordonairs and toured extensively with Jerry Lee Lewis. He played drums for several other artists at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. In the late 1970s, Vince came to Great Falls, where he played at the Beacon, Westside Vets, and the Elks Club. He had many other gigs also. He was a real estate appraiser and did appraisals all over Montana with Triangle Appraisal Service for the past 15 years.He was an active member of the VFW, serving as Chief of Staff for the State of Montana under Eric Maki, traveling to Washington DC and Tennessee. He was also a member of the Order of the Cooties for the VFW and a member of the Elks Lodge.Vince is survived by his beloved wife, Peggy Ann Peck-Fernandes of Great Falls; daughters Mary Louise Fernandes-Gentry and twin daughters Patricia Fernandes and Teresa Riveira, all of Hawaii; stepdaughters Lisa Peck of Havre, Christina (Scott) Dimke of Great Falls, Emily A. Vaughn of Havre; two stepdaughters he helped to raise from 2nd grade to adult, Natasha L. Peck of Havre and Trisha A. Peck of Great Falls; a son, Patrick Vincent Fernandes of Bozeman; brother Melton Fernandes of Sonora, CA; many nieces and nephews and cousins.He was preceded in death by his parents, James Joseph and Elizabeth Kanoena Akina; brothers, Walter Fernandes, Richard Fernandes; sisters Patricia Grant, Lynette Conger and a younger sister, Mouna Fernandes.