Joe Diamond, 102, Peculiar, Missouri, died peacefully Monday, December 16, 2019 at Beautiful Savior Home in Belton, Missouri.  Joe was born January 28, 1917 in Wheaton, Missouri, a son of Alex and Hattie M. (Glenn) Diamond.  In 1918, the family moved from Barry County, Missouri to the Jaudon Community, west of Belton.  Joe was united in marriage to Gladys Edna Smith on December 24, 1939 in Independence, MO.  They were married 57 years and were the parents of two sons, Bill and LeRoy.  They purchased their farm west of Peculiar in 1947 and ran the dairy farm until Joe's retirement in 1985.  Gladys passed away Sunday, February 9, 1997.

Joe was a member of the First Baptist Church in Peculiar, and had served as the Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop #245 in Peculiar in 1967 and 1968.  Joe was a member and Past Master (1967) of Grand River Masonic Lodge #276 in Freeman, MO.  He was a former member of the Mid-America Dairy Association.

Joe reconnected with a childhood friend, Velma Helt, and they were married October 14, 2000.  After 17 years of marriage, she preceded him in death November 8, 2017.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Gladys; two brothers, Clifford and Irvin; two sisters, Blanche and Geloria; a grandson, Billy Joe "Joey" Diamond; and his wife, Velma, and her son, Sam Helt.

Joe is survived by two sons, Bill (Sharla) Diamond and LeRoy (Brenda) Diamond, all of Peculiar; three grandchildren, Angelia Diamond, Anna (Trey) Coble and Fred Seba; two great-grandchildren, Baiden Coble and Braeleigh McConnell; Velma's family: son, LeRoy Helt, daughter-in-law,  Sue Helt, grandchildren, Shawn (Michelle) Helt, Shanda (Quentin) Lawrence, and great-grandchildren, Kaila (Justin) Back, Slater Helt, Sutter Helt, Avery Lawrence and Donovan Lawrence; and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held Friday, December 20, 2019 at the First Baptist Church in Peculiar, MO, with burial in the Peculiar, MO Cemetery.  A Masonic service, under the direction of Grand River Masonic Lodge #276, was held Thursday at the Atkinson Funeral Home.

Contributions may be made to Ascend Hospice or the First Baptist Church, Peculiar, MO.