Kenneth Edward Friar, 67, of El Dorado Springs, passed away April 17, 2020, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin after a short illness. Kenny was born Jan. 10, 1953, at Nevada City Hospital to Jim and Marguerite (Stone) Friar of El Dorado Springs.

His parents preceded Kenny in death. He is survived by daughter, Nikki, and husband, Troy Allison, of El Dorado Springs; son, Dylan Friar, of Springfield; brother, Bob, and wife, Judy Friar, of El Dorado Springs; sister, Carol Sue Dove, of Mountain Home, AR; and many other family and friends.

Kenny was born into a family where the relationships run deep – your cousins become your best friends and aunts and uncles become parents. Kenny loved the time he spent with his Uncle Ed and Aunt Betty Friar, who treated him as if he was just another one of their kids.

Kenny graduated from El Dorado Springs High School in 1971 and attended SMSU in Springfield. Kenny married Gay Detwiler Dec. 10, 1988, and had two children, Nikki Allison and Dylan James Friar.

Though hard to narrow down all that Kenny loved, his children were his pride and joy – they were Kenny’s core strength. Two of the happiest and proudest days of Kenny’s life were when Nikki and Dylan were born. Another happy moment of Kenny’s life was when Nikki married Troy. He appreciated how Nikki and Troy shared their lives with him and he respected the home they made together. Kenny loved watching the three Allison sons – Zach, Chandler, and Brant – grow up and become the respectable, caring young men they are.

After high school, Kenny worked as a surveyor in Colorado. In 1991, Kenny went to work for Finley Engineering. He enjoyed working alongside his close friend, Mike Donaldson, and nephew, Rick Delk.

Reading, music and motorcycles were lifelong interests of Kenny. He lived a full life, starting each day with a few chapters from a book and filling the afternoons with his favorite vinyl. He loved going to the library to pick up new books each week. Going to Kenny’s was like walking into a place of serenity; the weight of the world would fall from your shoulders as you walked through his door.   

In life, we make many friends but only a few stick with you throughout. Kenny and the Ronnies (Ronnie Lines and Ronnie Butterfield) were best pals. We can only imagine all the trouble those three got into. Later in life, he reunited with a dear friend, Arlinda Vittetoe, and enjoyed every moment spent in her company.

Kenny had a broad social circle of family and friends in the El Dorado Springs area. He was intensely private, independent and lived in Zen-like simplicity. Kenny’s well-developed dry sense of humor will be sorely missed by the family and friends he has left behind, but warmly welcomed by those who have gone before.

“When I get to heaven, I’m going to shake God’s hand, thank him for more blessings that one man can stand… then I’m gonna get a cocktail, club soda and Ginger Ale. Gonna smoke a cigarette that’s nine miles long. Gonna kiss that pretty girl, on the TiltaWhirl, this old man is going to town.”

When I Get to Heaven by John Prine

A private memorial service will be held at a later date, but a book will be available for friends to sign at Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.  Disposition was by inurnment under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be left on our website at: www.blandhackleman.com.

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