James Friend (Bolivar)'s Obituary
James Otis Friend, age 88 of Bolivar, Mo went to be with his heavenly father at his home, surrounded by his family and friends, Friday, August 18, 2017.
He was born to Ulah (Hart) and Preston Friend on April 6, 1929 in Longrun, Mo.
James served his country in the United States Army from 1951 to 1965, earning the rank of Sergeant First Class E-7 in the 176th Armored Artillery BN-1X Corps. He was a Korean War Veteran from 1951-1952 and United States Army Reserves from 1953-1965.
He drove for Trailways and Greyhound Bus lines for 32 years and safely drove over 2 million miles.
On March 25, 1965, he was united in marriage to Alma Loeta Dunham Myers. Together they began ministering in Ozark County. Then in Springfield, Neosho and Hartville. In 1976 they moved to Bolivar to pastor and minister at churches in Bolivar and surrounding communities.
James began volunteering as a CMH Hospice Chaplain in February 2008. His care and compassion for others was shown through volunteerism, which ranged from sitting with patients during their final hours to visiting widows to grocery shopping for surviving loved ones. He logged hundreds of bedside visits in addition thousands of miles in travel. He was also considered a social worker for families, coordinating needed information regarding death and burial benefits from the Veterans Administration to acting as counselor for families. James had the Heart of a Servant. In addition James served as the Chaplin for the local American Veterans Honor Guard.
James was honored for his service on March 2, 2010 by the Missouri House of Representative. He was awarded the Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder’s Senior Service Award on February 6, 2011. James was a recipient of the Lillian Hutcheson Award in 2015.
In October 2015 James suffered a stroke and had to retire his services to mankind. At that time he became the recipient of love and care from his family, CMH Home Health and Hospice. The family of James would like to thank CMH Hospice for the devoted love and care that they provided since January 2017.
James was preceded in death by his parents, son, Billy Myers, four brothers, Quentin, Earlin, David and Samuel Friend, 3 sisters, Lucy Sherrill, Lorene Hooton and Eunice Green, grandson, Nicholas Owens and son in law, Troy Richardson.
Surviving is his wife, Loeta Friend, three daughters, Beverly Richardson of Greeenfield, Mo., Libby (Mike) Farrell of Lafe, Ar., Melissa (John) Fenton of Nolanville, Tx., two sons, Tim Friend and Phillip(Lisa)Friend of Springfield, Mo., Nine grandchildren, Dustin (Sarah) Beasley, Jami Marie (Henry) Domenico, Brady Herbert, Tony Fenton, Krista Fenton, Amber (Anthony) Tipton, Kelsey (Sam) Maclennan, Nicholas (Maresa) Smith and Courtney Smith, 16 great grandchildren.
Also two sisters in law, Anna Sparkman and Vera Mitchell. Nephews, Conley Howard and Larry Friend, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 from 6-8pm at Butler Funeral Home, Bolivar, Mo.
Memorial Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, August 24, 2017 at 12:00pm at Butler Funeral Home with Chaplin Rick Friend and Chaplin Randy Watkins officiating. Musical Soloist’s will be Brad Wommack singing Beulah Land and Chantel Carter singing How Great Thou Art Pallbearers will be sons in law and grandsons. Honorary Pallbearers will be Larry Martin, Bill Moore, Dr. Donald Jump and Velbert Walker, Trailways Bus Drivers and CMH Hospice.
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