Audrey Simmelink

1927 - 2023

Audrey Simmelink
May 23, 1927 - April 19, 2023
Kennewick, Washington - Audrey O'Neal Simmelink was born May 23, 1927 in Vancouver, WA to Helen & Henry O'Neal. She grew up on a farm north of Vancouver, in the town of Felida. She graduated from Vancouver High School (1945) and Central Washington University (1949) and she is an adopted Alumni of WSU. Audrey taught elementary students for 40 years in Vancouver, Hawaii, Richland, Germany, Eugene, OR and finally in Kennewick where she retired in 1988. Audrey married Cork Simmelink in 1957 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Kennewick. Audrey & Cork and friends loved to travel all over the world and especially in her 1914 Cadillac and 1938 Packard. Though she traveled all over the world, she loved the Tri-Cities the best of all! She often remarked "I LOVE THIS PLACE!" She had a zest for life and enjoyed living it to the fullest. She loved children, reading, hiking, biking, singing, playing ukelele, tennis and Scottie dogs.
Audrey competed in the USA Tennis National Tournaments, winning first place three times and second place three times. She was on two teams that won National titles at the Phoenix Open. She also won many NW Regional Tournaments. Audrey was a member of the Catholic Parish of the Holy Spirit in Kennewick and the Amazing Grace Choir at the church and was a Eucharistic Minister. She was also a member of The Tri-City Court Club (Pacific Clinic), The Retired Teachers Association, PEO, The Serra Club (to promote good priests) and the Ye Olde Car Club (one of the founding members). Her volunteer activities included Hospice, Jayceettes, and KEA. She served on the Executive Board of Tri-City Chaplaincy and Hospice. Audrey was also pivotal in starting Cork's Place. In 2004 she was named Kennewick Woman of the Year. Being an avid tennis player, she was a big supporter of the WSU women's tennis team, helping them repair their indoor courts, in the Fieldhouse. Now the tennis courts are named The Audrey Simmelink Tennis Courts. She also sponsors one player each year. Audrey also established the R.M. "Cork" Simmelink scholarship at the School of Pharmacy at WSU.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband R.M. "Cork" Simmelink; brothers William "Bill" O'Neal, Waldo "Woggs' O'Neal; sisters Peggy Markham, Wilma Walters, Barbara Fouts and niece Betty Lou Lund.
Survivors: nieces and nephews Neal Fouts (Kathy) – Oakdale, CA, Jack Fouts – Kennewick, WA, Mary Porter (Charles) – Elk, WA, Susan Boulton (Robert) – Kennewick, WA, Carol Montgomery – Tulalip, WA, Linda Pickett (Terry) – Camas, WA, Gretchen Garrison – McCleary, WA, Thomas O'Neal (Margaret) – Ocean Park, WA, Patrick O'Neal (Catherine) – Long Beach, WA, Jon Mackenstadt (Annette) – Kennewick, WA, Su Mayfield (Craig) – Kennewick, WA, Jan Rhodes (Roby "Dusty") – Kennewick, WA, Rob Mackenstadt (Nancy) – Kennewick, WA, Dr. Robert McFarland (Barbara) - Coeur d'Alene, ID, Mary Lewis (Douglas) – Montesano, WA, Jane Peterson - Juliaetta, ID, many great nieces & nephews and great-great nieces & nephews.
There will be a Rosary said for Audrey at 6:00pm, Tuesday, May 2 at Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home – 1401 S. Union Street, Kennewick. The Requium Mass will be at 11:00am on Wednesday May 3, at the Parish of the Holy Spirit on Clearwater in Kennewick.
In lieu of flowers Audrey requested donations to the Parish of the Holy Spirit, Hospice House of Kennewick, Cork's Place or WSU Veterinary College in Pullman.