Norma Jean Friend daughter of Claude Nesmith and Hettie Brazil Nesmith, was born December 15, 1932 in Brownwood, Texas and passed away at 10:09 a.m. Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at the Heart of the Ozarks Health Care Center in Ava, Mo.
Jean was a nurse at the Northeast Hospital in Kansas City Hospital for a number of years. She was a member of the Dogwood Baptist Church. She was united in marriage to Everett Friend on May 23, 1963.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Everett Friend on October 18, 1998. Also preceding her in death were two sons Everett Alfred Friend, Jr. and David Parks. One brother J.B. Nesmith and four sisters, Sid Bailey, Bonnie Simmons, Claudia Greenwood and JoAnn Parks.
Survivors include one son Steve Welch and his wife Brenda of Marshfield. Three daughters Beverly Kniesell and her husband Ken of Ava, Deanna Welch, Hazelwood, Mo., and Connie Tucker and her husband Bud of Squires, Mo. Twelve grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Visitation is 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, November 21, 2014 and services are at Fraker Funeral Home Saturday, November 22, 2014 at 1:00 p.m.