Victoria "Vicki" Simpkins

A small memorial service celebrating her life will be held in Louisiana in May, and another with family and friends will follow in Ohio this fall. Friends and family may also reach out to coriphelps@protonmail.com to share memories and to get specifics regarding the celebration later this year. Comments can also be shared here online as well.

Victoria "Vicki" Ann Simpkins (Matter), age 74, loving mother and devoted friend, entered Heaven peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of 2 ^nd April in Louisiana, after a courageous thirteen-year battle with Early-Onset Alzheimer's. Vicki was born on July 14th, 1947, in Good Samaritan Hospital in Sandusky, Ohio to her mother Joanne (Welser) Matter and her father, Russell Matter. She loved to spend time with her brother, and her many aunts, uncles and cousins growing up, especially her Aunt Jan Halishak (a "second mom") in Cleveland and other parts of nearby Ohio.

In her youth, Vicki was a talented baton twirler and drummer, and a member for more than 10 years of the award-winning Sandusky Eaglettes, eventually becoming a Drum Major. She graduated from Sandusky High School in the Class of 1965, where she was also majorette with the Sandusky High Band for 4 years, developing lifelong friendships from both organizations. She started her journey with her first job at Cedar Point Amusement Park, where her brother Dan also worked, then continued life and work in various types of creative and office-related work in Ohio, Michigan, Florida, and Texas, returning to Sandusky to help care for her own mom, eventually owning her own small campground, Shady Trails, back in Michigan. In her heart, Sandusky was always truly her home. She came to live in Louisiana near her daughter after her Alzheimer's diagnosis at 62 years old. Those who grew to know her and care for her in her nursing home over the last 7+ years loved her like family.

Vicki loved to laugh, could sew anything and make beautiful floral arrangements, danced and sang any time the music was good, truly loved people, and preferred to eat ice cream, and wear turquoise, jeans, and a cute pair of boots. She gave everything as a daughter, sister, wife, mother and aunt, made sure her daughter and her friends knew they were special (usually with lots of greeting cards), adored her brother and her extended family through both blood and by marriage, loved to snuggle with her pets, and would never turn down a day at the beach or a ride on a Harley or in a convertible. Vicki didn't fully realize what an amazing person she was to those who knew her well, and she will be terribly missed by her daughter, her family and friends. Although the memories may have left her own mind in this life, they live on in her heart in Heaven.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents and great grandparents, as well as her parents Russell and Joanne, and is survived by her daughter Cori (Jim) Phelps, brother Daniel (Cynthia), niece Amanda (Eric) Ruble, and nephew Gregory Matter.

Her daughter would like to give special thanks to Linda Howell of Sandusky, for the true friendship she held with her mom, and for her help in keeping the best memories of Vicki alive all these years. "It may be raining, but there's a rainbow above you…"