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Ray Buel Friend

Ray Buel Friend, 94, of Rogersville, passed peacefully Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at Ozark Nursing and Care Center in Ozark.

Ray was born on Aug. 22, 1921, at Toledo, Mo., to Ira and Edna (Stevenson) Friend. Ray served in the US Army in World War Il in the South Pacific.

Ray was married to Mildred Gladys Cook on Dec. 29, 1945, and she preceded him in death on May 25, 1996. Ray retired from the State of California in the building maintenance department.

Surviving are his daughter, Christine Swinney and husband, Sonny, of Rogersville; two sisters, Euletta Miller, of Nipomo, Calif., and Jeneva Childress, of Merced, Calif.; three grandchildren and spouses, Frank and Becky Swinney of Halfway, John and Carmen Swinney of Springfield, and Wendy and Clint George of Rogersville; seven great-grandchildren, Christopher and Kyle Swinney, Jefrey Swinney, Tyson Heffley and wife Gina, Keilah Johnson and husband Kyle, Taylor Hoffman and husband Kendall, and Brittney Housley; three great-great-grandchildren, Chloe and Blake Heffley and Eric Johnson; several nieces and nephews.

Ray was also preceded in death by his twin sister, Fay Dollarhide.

Graveside services were at 11 a.m. Monday at the West Finley Cemetery, Fordland. Burial was with full military honors under the direction of Preston-Marsh Funeral Home.