Betty Diane Stafford Friend

BETTY DIANE STAFFORD FRIEND, 49, a member of Christ the King Catholic Church, lovingly went to the Lord on March 1, 2013 after her long, brave fight with renal cell cancer. She was preceded in death by her mother, Barbara Stafford, and is survived by her loving husband, Dr. Gerald W. Friend; her children, Patrick, Katherine, and Joseph; her father, Billy Godsey Stafford; her sister, Brenda Stafford Lea (Bill); nieces, Abby Hooper and Emily Chantharasy; sister-in-law Marie Friend Petersen (Gregg); and brother-in-law, Monsignor Scott Friend. Betty graduated from high school in Brownsville, Tenn. in 1981. She attended the University of Tennessee Martin and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee Memphis with a B.S. in medical technology. Her career and vocation was devoted to her family as a loving and caring mother and wife. The Friend Family would like to thank Dr. Rhonda Gentry, Dr. Brad Baltz, Cathy Lee, Jan Black, and all the caring staff of Hematology Oncology Services of Arkansas. The family would also like to thank all of the friends that have walked beside us through Betty's sickness. Not only have you been Betty's angels, you have also been ours. We also want to thank God for the gift of Betty. She drew all of us closer to The Lord through the way she chose to love everyone that she met. Even in her sickness, Betty was more concerned with caring for others than herself. Betty loved her children and was thankful for the institutions that helped form them. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Little Rock Christ the King Catholic School, Mount Saint Mary Academy, Little Rock Catholic High School for Boys, Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., or the Diocese of Little Rock Seminarian Fund. A Vigil Service with the rosary will be held at Little Rock Christ the King Catholic Church Friday, March 8, at 8 p.m., and the Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 9, at 1 p.m. at the church. Arrangements are by Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth, 501-661-9111. Betty's online guestbook is available at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.