Vondell Freudenrich Simpkins

Vondell Freudenrich Simpkins (85) of Amarillo, Texas passed away on Thursday, November 12, 2026.

Visitation will be held 2-4 pm Sunday, November 15, 2026, at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home located at 2800 Paramount Blvd, Amarillo, TX 79109 . A graveside service will follow Monday, November 16, 2026, at 2pm at Llano Cemetery Mausoleum, 2900 S Hayes St, Amarillo, TX.

Vondell was born January 23, 1941, in Lela, TX to Earie Andrew Freudenrich and Lois Francis (Haynes) Freudenrich. Vondell attended Palo Duro High School leaving early to become a military wife and eventually, mother to Maia Tress of Amarillo and Harold Gene Tress of Harleton, TX, both born in Japan, USAF.

Vondell once stated that if she had her life to live over, she would love to have been a missionary. One could trace that heartfelt desire through her work life and friendships. Her life as a homemaker and mother changed when she took her first job with a government munitions contractor in Marshall, TX. What happened there was the blueprint for successive jobs over the years: she was an exemplary employee exhibiting pride in her work along with an easy, natural joy and humor. Vondell made friends easily.

As her parents aged, she made her way back to her favorite place, Amarillo, eventually taking a job in the gift shop of Cracker Barrel. There, she came into her own as she cultivated what she felt was her mission, that of being a kind, helpful and welcoming presence, fulfilling what she felt was her soul mission as a Christian. She became a missionary without the title. Many who worked with her and many who periodically traveled through counted on her sunny disposition and loving nature.

Likewise, among those who benefitted from her ministry were the animals among us, dogs, cats, birds and the occasional Guinea pig. In her last years, these would be her most constant companions, and she would have fought a bear to keep them safe and cared for.

Vondell (widowed) is survived by her children, Maia and Gene (Jacqui), three grands: Jason Davis (Diane), Holly Scott and Titus Tress, as well as one great granddaughter, Ilani V. Heese, and two great-great granddaughters, Sage and Sawyer. She was adored by many, including her brothers Allen Lee Freudenrich (Dana) and Weldon O. Freudenrich (Brenda Joy), as well as a handful of equally adoring cousins, nieces and nephews. She loved them dearly.

Vondell has been loving life, while equally excited about meeting her heavenly Father for a very long time.