Antonio Marques De Freitas

Antonio Marques Freitas, lovingly known as Vovô, passed away peacefully on May 27, 2026, at the age of 72.

Antonio was born on September 20, 1953, in Abrunheira, Portugal, to Manuel Mainho De Freitas and Irene Marques Moutela. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Carlos Marques DeFreitas Martins.

Antonio is survived by his beloved wife, Maria Fatima Freitas; his daughter, Catarina Neal and husband William Neal; his son, David De Freitas and wife Yelitza De Freitas; and his cherished grandchildren Abigail Neal, Liam Neal, Daxtin De Freitas, and Logan De Freitas. He is also survived by his siblings Jose Manuel Moutela, Herminio Marques Freitas, Judite Marques De Freitas, Maria Irene Marques Ribeiro, Maria Augusta Freitas, and Maria De Luz Freitas.

In Portugal, Antonio and his wife owned a restaurant and store before immigrating to California in 1989 in search of a better life for their family. Shortly after arriving in the United States, Antonio became a farmer, a profession he dedicated himself to for over 30 years through hard work, sacrifice, and determination. In 2019, Antonio and Maria retired and moved to Arkansas to be closer to family, where they built a home filled with laughter, love, and constant activity alongside their children and grandchildren.

Antonio lived a simple life centered around family, helping others, and enjoying the little things. If his grandchildren had a soccer game, football game, or cheer event, you could count on Vovô being there. He loved helping get the kids to school and practices, fishing with his grandsons, watching the dogs, tending to his yard and garden, and spending time outdoors. He could grow just about any vegetable known to mankind and found joy in raking leaves just so he could burn them afterward.

Anyone who knew Antonio knew he was only ever one phone call away. Whether someone needed help moving, yard work done, something built, repaired, cleaned, or simply needed a hand, he showed up without hesitation. He never expected anything in return and gave freely to everyone around him. 

Antonio also loved the simple fun of family gatherings — especially a competitive game of cards, dominoes, or cornhole, where he was known to play a mean game. He had a quiet sense of humor and never missed the chance to use one of his favorite jokes. Anytime someone asked if he got a haircut, he would smile and say, “No, I got them all cut.” 

More than anything, Antonio will be remembered for his work ethic, his generosity, his love for family, and the steady presence he brought to everyone fortunate enough to know him. His family takes comfort knowing his legacy will continue through the lessons he taught, the memories he created, and the unconditional love he gave so freely.

In true Antonio fashion, he did not believe in lavish events and often felt they were a waste of money. In lieu of a traditional funeral service, the family will be holding a memorial luncheon at a later date to celebrate his life together.