PLAINS – J. Kirk Friend, age 55, passed away May 23, 2018, at his Plains residence.

He was born March 11, 1963, at Dodge City, Kansas, the son of Kenneth and Karen S. (Smith) Friend. As a young boy he attended school in Dodge City, graduating from Dodge City High School in 1981.  After his graduation, he attended Dodge City Community College.  He later furthered his education, attending Kansas State University and later Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Alva, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Ag.  In November of 1991, he moved to Plains and began his career.

He attended the Southern Baptist Church in Pratt and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family and friends.

On August 3, 1995, he married Elizabeth Hermann at Meade, Kansas.  They later divorced.

He is survived by his children, Clint Friend of Sioux City, Iowa, Kyndra Friend of Manhattan, Kansas, and Tyler Friend of Plains; his mother, Karen Friend of Pratt; two sisters, Stacy England and husband Pat of Winfield, Kansas, and Kristin McPherson and husband Herb of Pratt, Kansas; a special uncle Jim Bill Smith and wife Donna of Cherokee, Oklahoma; nine nieces and nephews, Dana and Tyler Cummins, Zeke McPherson, Kara and Casey Old, Hannah and Cody Barilla, Leah and Trent Befort; and seven great nieces, Claire Cummins, Rachel Barilla, Kennedy Befort, Caroline Cummins, Naomi and Chloe Barilla, and Piper Befort.

He is preceded in death by his father, Kenneth.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 29, 2018, at the Emmanuel Mennonite Church, Meade. Interment will follow at 3:00 p.m. at the Cherokee Cemetery, Cherokee, Oklahoma.  Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. until service time at the church on Tuesday.

In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome memorials to the Humane Society in care of Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade.