Alex Praphan Boonyakiti, 20, was born Aug. 21, 1989, in El Dorado Springs to John Praphan and Karri (Bowman) Boonyakiti. He passed away suddenly Feb. 4, 2010, in Springfield.
Alex enjoyed sports. He started playing soccer in Nevada, from age three until he started Mighty Mite football in the fifth grade. Alex played football for eight years and loved all his teammates and coaches. He ran track and played baseball and basketball. Alex was a great athlete and excelled at all he did.
He was preceded in death by two grandfathers, Jim Bowman and Larry Kerr.
Alex is survived by his father, John “Pun” Boonyakiti and wife, Kimberly - Nevada; his mother, Karri Bowman - El Dorado Springs; two brothers, Michael Boonyakiti and Chance Bain - both of El Dorado Springs; two sisters, Jasmine Boonyakiti, NC, and Aysha Boonyakiti - Nevada; his maternal grandmother, Kathy Stone and husband, Lloyd - El Dorado Springs; his paternal grandparents, Somjit Kerr, and friend, Darryl Kiger - Nevada; paternal grandfather, Gat Boonyakiti - Thailand; uncles - Adam Rodgers, and wife, Ashley - El Dorado Springs, James Bowman and wife, Skye, of Fort Campbell, KY, Jacob Bowman - El Dorado Springs, Al Stone and wife, Danae - Blue Springs, Brent Stone and wife, Crystal - Grain Valley, Brandon Stone and wife, Stephanie - Butler; aunts - Sara Bowman - Springfield, Vipa Boonyakiti and friend, Samuel Vella - NJ, Michelle Loy and husband, Josh - California and Laurie Long and husband, Zach – Kansas; paternal great aunts - Pitt Morris - California and Porntip, Sarnmanee and Sri - all of Thailand; cousins - Jessica Jones and husband, Chris - Nevada, Sean Jackson and wife, Jaime - Texas, Gabriella and Caleb Loy – California, Laikyn, Kaden and Drew Long - Kansas, and Avery Rodgers - El Dorado Springs, other relatives and many great friends.
Services were held Tuesday, Feb. 9, in the Church of God (Holiness), El Dorado Springs, with Pastor Joe Trussell officiating. Michael Boonyakiti sang–“What Brothers Are For.”
Casketbearers were Chad Depee, Geoff Stewart, Donnie Pennington, Chris Shanks, Brian Ellis and David Rotert.
Interment was in Hackleman Cemetery, El Dorado Springs, under direction of Sheldon Funeral Home, El Dorado Springs.
The family suggests contributions to the Alex Boonyakiti Memorial Fund in lieu of flowers.
