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 Schuler 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
