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Funeral: 12 noon Thursday, December 21, 2023, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home
Visitation: 10 a.m. until 12 noon on Thursday at the funeral home
Burial: Clay City Cemetery
Noel E. Wyatt, age 92, of Clay City, Illinois, peacefully passed away Monday morning, December 18, 2023, in Clay City.
Born on December 26, 1930, in rural Wayne County “out on the Riggs place” to the late Oscar William and Merl (Ellis) Wyatt, Noel embraced a life abundant in love for his family and dedication to hard work from the time he began helping plow fields at the age of nine. On August 18, 1949, he joined hands in matrimony with his true once-in-a-lifetime love, Kathryn Jean Herdes, in Morganfield, Kentucky. Their shared journey, filled with countless cherished memories, was truly enriched as more grandkids and a new generation of family came along. Kathryn preceded Noel in passing on January 27, 2016.
Noel was rightly described as a “Clay City Oilfield Legend.” He was part of the oil business for over 60 years beginning as a roughneck, manning pulling units, and operating with Shuler Tractor Service from 1958 to 2014. He enjoyed fishing, quail and deer hunting, gardening, tending to his goats and chickens, and in later years often helped Kathryn with making jelly and canning, continuing these traditions after her passing. In his youth, he confessed his faith in Christ, and he and Kathryn were longtime faithful members of Sailor Springs Christian Church.
He is survived by his daughter: Mona (Steve) Lewis of Clay City; 5 grandchildren: Shawn (Kevin) Williams of Flora, Charity (Derek) Mitchell of Clay City, Chad (Penny) Wyatt of Vergennes, Jeremy (Katie) Fitch of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and Cody (Jennifer) Lewis of Clay City; 9 great-grandchildren: Kenna Williams, Sabryna (Brandon) Hand, and Josie (Austin) Davis, Tryston and Bella Wyatt, and Isabella, Lennox, Pyper Kay and Remi Lewis; and 2 great-great-grandchildren: Christopher and Iris Davis. He is also survived by step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, step-great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; beloved wife: Kathryn Jean Wyatt; 2 sons: Kenneth Wyatt and Wayne Dean Wyatt; a daughter-in-law: Dorothy Wyatt; and 6 siblings: Lucille Kauble, Bernice Kauble, Neil Ellis Wyatt, Eva Herdes, Neva Slankard, and William Oscar Wyatt.
A funeral ceremony will begin at 12 noon Thursday, December 21, 2023, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora with Tim Schnautz officiating. Burial will follow in Clay City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 12 noon on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the donor’s choice of the Clay County Cancer Support Group, Sailor Springs Christian Church, or Shriners Hospitals for Children. Donations for any of these will be accepted through the funeral home. To share a condolence or memory with Noel’s family, visit: www.frankandbright.com
Aug 29, 1936 - Dec 21, 2024
Jul 16, 1935 - Dec 18, 2024
Jan 27, 1930 - Dec 17, 2024
Dec 25, 1988 - Dec 14, 2024
Jun 5, 1937 - Dec 5, 2024
So sorry for your loss .Dad was friends with him when they were kids. Later Kenny worked for Dad in oilfield. Kenny and my brother also worked together. I worked with Dorothy at Hella. One great family.so sorry.
Noel was a good friend of my dad Dean. Dad and Noel worked side by side in the oil fields for many years. Im so sorry for your loss, prayers for the family…RIP Noel
Fly high uncle Noel I bet the family reunion at the gate of haven with ur mom and dad and wife and brother and sister nice and sons and daughter in laws till we meet again I will for ever love you and cherish the moments we had
So sorry to hear that, such as nice guy, neighbor & caretaker of his pets he will be missed.
My deepest condolences to the family. To have known Noel was a gift. He was an exceptional guy. I've had the pleasure in my life to have worked with and beside him. Heaven gained a phenomenal person.
You will be missed very much 😢 loved hanging with you at family reunions
My condolences to Mona& family.
I am sorry to hear your dad passing away. My prayers goes to you and family Love, Paula
Thoughts and prayers to you all. Noel was a good honest man. He'll be missed by many. God Bless you all in this difficult time.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, Noel was such a great guy.
Noel and I worked, rode horses, sat around the fire and on the swing. He is a person I’ll never forget, always had a smile and a chuckle and was sincerely interested in your life. I will never forget we were taking a break one day and Noel jokingly said “Rick if I die out here just tarp strap me to this dozer seat. He loved joking around. The last I seen him he stopped by the house to visit while he didn’t stay long he kept in touch. He asked me how old I was and I told him, of course he said I was still a pup. Oddly he said “ let’s make a deal if you die before me I’ll come to your funeral and if I go before you, you come to mine “. The last several years have been rough and no one is more deserving of heaven and being with family than you. Rest in Peace ole Buddy ❤️
R.I.P. Noel. He was a good friend and the best egg man. I always enjoyed our visits.
One of My last conversations I had with late good friend , Dr Art Shuler, Art mentioned he thought it was Noel in an old video that captured Shuler Trucking winching a stranded pickup in the Clay City bottoms. Noel was An Oil Legend.
One of My last conversations I had with a late good friend , Dr Art Shuler, Art mentioned he thought it was Noel in an old video that captured Shuler Trucking winching a stranded pickup in the Clay City bottoms. Noel was An Oil Legend.
Frank & Bright Funeral Home
and Cremation Services
500 North Main Street
Flora, Illinois 62839
Phone : (618) 662-2141
Fax: (618) 662-4600
Email: [email protected]
