Harvey Dewayne "Buddy" Friend, 66, was born on May 6, 1959, in Idabel, Oklahoma to Barbara Ann (Bryant) Jenkins and Harvey Friend. He was preceded in death by his parents and favorite aunt and uncle, Lois and A.D. Friend.

Buddy graduated from Idabel High School in 1978. He married his loving wife, Gayla, on October 17, 2017, in Fort Towson. He drove an 18-wheeler for 36 years accident free and had two trucks leased to Brooks & Dunn and hauled their equipment, which led him to meet a lot of country music stars. At a truck stop in Texas, he went down to the basement to relax and watch TV and Willie Nelson was there and he talked to him while he rested. Buddy loved to hunt deer and fish. He was hunting at night, and the game warden got after him on foot and circled back around to the game wardens house and he cleaned and skinned two deer in the warden's cellar and took the meat and left the rest. He later became friends with the same game warden. Buddy loved his family, especially the grandkids. He took them for rides on the tractor when they came over. Buddy liked to do woodwork and made beautiful chests. He liked to play pool and was good at it, he bought his first pick up hustling pool at 16. Buddy liked to tease everyone and have a good time and liked to sing karaoke. Buddy will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Buddy is survived by his wife, Gayla Friend of the home; stepdaughters, Brandi Hobbs of Idabel, OK and Cheyenne Harkrider and husband, Dawson of Valliant, OK; grandkids, Angel, Armani and Ethan; sister, Dianna High and husband, Chris of Frisco, TX; nephews, Adison High and wife, Kirstin of Daleville, IN and Mason High and wife, Nina Welfie of Frisco, TX along with many other family, friends and loved ones.