The beautiful angel who was my loving wife, Sydna Ranson Dudley Schweifler, has this world and returned to heaven on July 14, 2026.. Those who had the pleasure of knowing Sydna know what an amazing soul and free spirit she was. There is no doubt in my mind that she will keep heaven active and busy until I return to her embrace.
Sydna was born on September 11, 1957, in Perryton, to Eldon J. Dudley and Janet (Ranson) Dudley. She grew up in the Texas Panhandle, where her family worked in ranching and farming, and where her father owned a feedyard.
From a young age, Sydna was a spitfire—a quality fondly remembered by the close friends who knew her then. During her childhood, her mother handed her a camera, sat her on a fence, and taught her to take photographs of her parents as they practiced for rodeo events. That early moment helped spark a lifelong love of animals and photography.
Sydna always loved animals, but horses held a special place in her heart, alongside the furry apex predators she loved watching and photographing. As part of a rodeo family, she barrel raced until her late teens and won the Texas High School Rodeo Association Championship Barrel Racer title in 1976. Sydna would often say there was nothing in the world like that fifteen-second ride.
In high school, Sydna had her first opportunity to travel abroad on a school trip to France. She was immediately enthralled by the much larger world beyond the United States and quickly devoted herself to experiencing as much of it as she could, as often as she could.
Following high school, Sydna attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, where she set out to “chase a four-point” grade average. She earned her master’s degree from Texas Tech in May 1982.
After college, Sydna worked as a counselor in Amarillo. She had been fascinated from a young age by the human mind and the way people process emotion, and that curiosity helped guide her work.
Sydna traveled all over the world, setting foot on every continent except Antarctica. She visited more places than most people ever dream of seeing. She carried the spirit of an explorer— always searching for something new or returning to relive the extraordinary experiences she treasured.
She loved sharing stories about the places she had been and the experiences that shaped her. Our home is decorated with prints of the animal friends she photographed so she could bring them home and be surrounded by them. She could tell you the story behind every photograph she took.
Sydna also had an immense amount of faith. She believed and taught us all that God would solve your problems and that we should all learn to cast our troubles away to him. She would often speak of receiving little nudges from God to help others. She also often volunteered for various roles because she felt it was her way of giving to others.
A few of the roles and places that Sydna volunteered for were as a board member of the Amarillo Nature Center, the Llano County Red Cross, Candlelight Ranch, The Phoenix Center and she was recently planning to assist in the office for the Highland Lakes ARK.
Sydna believed in living every day as if it might be your last, and she filled her days with wonder, courage, curiosity, and love.
Sydna is survived by her husband, Brad Schweifler; her brother, Kyle Dudley, and his wife, Kimberly; Kyle and Kimberly’s daughters, Kelsee and husband Will Perkins; and Kross and husband Caleb Blackwell; her daughter, Dylan, and Dylan’s husband, Taylor Hurt; their son, Banks and soon-to-be born daughter; and countless close family members, friends, and neighbors.
If you knew Sydna, crossed paths with her during her time on earth, or were influenced by her character and spirit in any way, please join us in celebrating her life on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, located at 1805 US-281, Marble Falls, TX 78654.
We ask that you please wear shades of blue as we gather to honor and celebrate the life of Sydna.
The family suggests memorials to the Highland Lakes Canine Rescue, P.O. Box 1275, Marble Falls TX 78654.