Read Mark "Mountain Man" Allan Friend's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Mark "Mountain Man" Allan Friend

Grain Valley, MO, USA

October 18, 1955 - December 23, 2020

Oct 18, 1955 - Dec 23, 2020

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Mark Allan Friend, 65, of Grain Valley, MO, passed away on 12/23/2020 after suffering a severe heart attack on 12/12/2020. Mark was the firstborn child of Glen and June Friend, born on 10/18/1955 in Littleton, Colorado. He graduated from Castle Rock Highschool where he was an accomplished part of the wrestling team. Mark was also involved in the Boy Scouts and earned the honor of Eagle Scout. He went on to study Business at Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa.

After graduation, Mark returned to Colorado to live with family until he met Lynda (Weiss) Phelps in 1980 and they married two years later. They moved from Colorado to Missouri in 1983 where they raised their three beautiful daughters, Mariah, Rebekah, and Andriah.

During that time, he was an active member of Colbern Road Restoration church as an elder and youth group leader. He also played the clarinet in the Independence Community Band, as well as enjoying frequent fishing trips and vacations with family. Most recently, he volunteered on the "VEG" squad for After the Harvest, a local non-profit where he earned the Silver Spade Award for volunteer distinction in 2020.

Mark “Mountain Man” Friend was a man of many hats, as in he loved wearing them. He was a son, uncle, caregiver, pet owner, lover of all things Jeremiah Johnson or John Denver, and most importantly of all, a loving and incredible father. Mark was a man with such a generous heart that he hardly thought of himself before he thought of others. His natural state was one of positivity and his full bellied laugh could fill up a room.

A stout minimalist, he hardly needed anything but received the most when he could give to others. Whether it was building a ramp so that his mother-in-law could be with her grandkids and family for Christmas, spending hours in the woods searching for bugs to help a daughter finish a science project in college, or becoming the sole caregiver of his father in his late age, no task was too big or small for Mark if it was in the name of helping friends and family.

Mark took time to enjoy the simple things; sunshine streaming through a window, frequent walks at his favorite hiking spot at Landahl Park, and coming up with new fangled (and often foraged!) recipes that fit his dietary needs. He loved road trips to his home state of Colorado and would blare John Denver or the Statler Brothers for the duration of those long drives (much to the dismay of his kids). He had an incredibly goofy, playful sense of humor and his ability to laugh at himself was just one example of his humble nature.

He was incredibly empathetic and had an aptitude for comforting others with a listening ear and open heart. To say that he will be missed is an understatement. A kinder, brighter soul, and a more loving spirit will be hard to find. There can be no replacement for what we’ve lost. Our ability to carry on in his absence is a testament to the strength of his love and the legacy he's left. While no one can ever fill his shoes, his footprints show us the way forward, together.

Mark was predeceased by his mother June Friend and brother Matthew Friend. He is survived by his father Glen Friend, siblings Jacob Friend and Susan Hausheer, as well as daughters Mariah Friend, Rebekah Friend, and Andriah Friend and many cherished family pets.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be sent in order to have a memorial park bench in Mark's name at Landhal Park, his favorite local hiking area. A celebration of life will be held at a later date, and updates as to time and location will be posted to this page.

Thank you for your continued support, love and care.

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