Beverly Sue (Crisp) Friend, daughter of the late Paris and Mary (Burney) Crisp, was born June 19, 1943, in Wright County, and went to her heavenly home on May 16, 2021. She was 77 years, 10 months and 27 days of age. Beverly grew up in the Competition and Lebanon areas as a child. She later moved with her family to Mountain Grove, where she graduated from Mountain Grove High School in 1961. She married Estel Friend on Oct. 26, 1961, in Mountain Grove. This union was blessed with four children, Kevin, Kimberly “Kim,” Kyra and Kaleb. She was a hard worker and was always busy helping on the family farm, from raking hay to milking cows. She always put out a big garden every year and enjoyed reaping the harvest from her crops. Beverly could do about anything. She was a wonderful cook, an amazing seamstress and a very talented artist. She loved to paint, which included landscapes and portraits. Beverly attended Dawson Assembly of God Church as long as her health permitted. She faithfully read her Bible. She was a soul winner for the Lord by sharing her faith and telling others about her Lord and Savior. Beverly lived her faith by loving and always putting others first. If someone was in need she was there to help. She loved her family immensely and they loved her. As her family says, “she was the best wife a husband could have, the most amazing mom in the world, and an awesome mother-in-law.” She will be sorely missed. Besides her parents, Beverly was preceded in death by one brother, Ronnie Crisp. She is survived by her loving husband of almost 60 years, Estel, of the home; her four children, Kevin Friend and his wife, Heather, of League City, Texas; Kimberly “Kim” Dale and her husband, Martin, of Houston, Texas; Kyra Huff and her husband, Gary, of Houston; and Kaleb Friend and his wife, Audrey, of Graff; six grandchildren, Trent Friend, Andrea Adkins and her husband, Jeremy; Seth Dale and his wife, Haley; Leah Daniels and her husband, Jon; Ryan Huff and his wife, Mandy; and Grace Hamilton; and one grandchild on the way, Grant Friend; seven great-grandchildren; two brothers, Lonnie Crisp and his wife, Kay, and Larry Crisp and his wife, Jennifer; one sister, Betty Kincheloe and her husband, Don; one half-brother, Mike Jennings; one half-sister, Tabatha Jolly and her husband, Patrick; and many other relatives and friends who will miss her very much. The family would like to thank Hospice Compassus for their compassion and care. Funeral Services for Beverly Friend were held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, in the Dawson Assembly of God Church. The Rev. Smiley Martin and the Rev. Martin Dale served as officiants. Special songs were “Worthy Of It All” and “I Can Only Imagine” by Jon and Leah Daniels. Serving as pallbearers were Kaleb Friend, Ryan Huff, Seth Dale, Jon Daniels, Jeremy Adkins and Hayden Huff. Burial was in the Friendship Cemetery under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home of Mountain Grove. Memorial Contributions may be made to The Fellowship (Israel Outreach) in care of the funeral home. Online condolences: www.craighurttfuneralhome.com.
