Carl Eugene Friend, 85

Funeral services for Carl Eugene Friend, 85, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 20, 2023, in the Clinkingbeard Chapel in Ava. Burial will follow in the Thornfield Cemetery with full military honors by the Troy Herd American Legion #112 and U.S. Army Detail. A visitation will be from 9 a.m. to service time. Officiating will be Pastor David Dye. 

He died July 15, at Cox South Medical Center in Springfield with his family by his side.

Carl was born Nov. 20, 1937, in Ozark County to Virdie Friend.

He was raised in Ozark County. He was a veteran and served in the United States Army during the Korean War. 

On July 17, 1976, Carl and Alma Lee Langston were married in Springfield.

Carl was a truck driver for many years with Wilcox Trucking. He also was a farmer. He enjoyed trail riding, hunting and fishing. Carl enjoyed people and loved to visit. His kindness he had with everyone he met was felt. He never met a stranger. He was a Christian and a member of  the Thornfield General Baptist Church. Carl had been one of the main caretakers of Thornfield Cemetery for over 20 years.

He is survived by his children: Debbie Bills, Sandy Perryman and Steve Friend; his stepdaughters, Kim Jackson, Teresa Remington and Ginger Neely; 12 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Wanda Lilly and Juraldean Strong; many nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives, friends and his best friend, his dog Jake.  

Carl was preceded in death by his mother, Virdie; his first wife, Katheryn; his wife of many years Alma Lee in 2010; two brothers, Ronnie and James Trent; sister, Ethel Mae Johnson; and a stepson, Steve Potter.

The family requests donations be made to the Thornfield Cemetery.  Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneralhome.com.