About Us
The dedicated team at Pyatt Funeral Home consists of compassionate, experienced professionals who recognize that every family is unique, with their own special requests and cherished traditions. Honoring these personal needs is a top priority for our licensed funeral directors and staff, forming the heart of the exceptional service we’ve proudly provided for 90 years..
Our History
Pyatt Funeral Home, originally founded by Maurice Pyatt in 1935, has long served the communities of Pinckneyville, Coulterville, DuQuoin, and Oakdale, Illinois. The business remained a family operation for generations, led by Maurice’s son, Richard “Dick” Pyatt, and later by Dick’s son, Kevin Pyatt.
In October 2024, Pyatt Funeral Home joined HG Caring Partners — a company founded by the Hawkins family, who originally established Angeleno Mortuaries in Southern California in 1997. Over 25 years, the Hawkins family expanded to 10 locations before selling Angeleno Mortuaries in 2022 and creating HG Caring Partners. The company is dedicated to honoring the legacy and traditions of the funeral homes it acquires while fostering a supportive work environment for its employees.
Bill Hawkins, president of HG Caring Partners, expressed his commitment to continuing the Pyatt family’s legacy: "As successors to the Pyatt family’s work, we are deeply aware of the trust placed in us to carry forward their traditions. Mr. Pyatt, Cheri Queen, and their remarkable team have built something truly special — a close-knit staff with deep ties to the community. It’s an honor to walk alongside them and ensure their legacy thrives for future generations.”
Michael Page, HG’s vice president of operations, echoed this sentiment: "The Pyatt motto has always been ‘People Helping People,’ and we’re dedicated to maintaining that same level of service. We’re proud to retain Mr. Pyatt and his entire team, both full-time and part-time staff. Those closest to the community are best suited to uphold the high standards that have been in place for generations. Any adjustments will only be made with input from the team and feedback from the families we serve.”
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Kevin Pyatt Funeral Director – Management Consultant
Kevin is a third-generation funeral director, previous owner, and currently works as the management consultant of Pyatt Funeral Homes. He is the son of the late Richard "Dick" Pyatt, who previously owned the funeral homes, and the late Ramona (Logan) Stotlar. His grandfather, the late Maurice Pyatt, founded Pyatt Funeral Home in 1935. He and his wife, Beth (Sims), originally of DuQuoin, live south of Pinckneyville on the Pyatt Blacktop. Kevin and Beth have four adult children, Julie Crockett and her husband, Thomas of Washington, D.C., James Pyatt of Austin, TX, Dylan Shook and Ann of Tampa, FL, and Bailey Shira and her husband, Mitchell of CleElum, WA and eight grandchildren, Lyda and Frances, Vivian, Izzy, and Colin, and Gianna, Landon, and Alexa.
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Beth (Sims) Pyatt Office Assistant
Beth is the wife of Kevin Pyatt and was born and raised in DuQuoin, IL, daughter of the late George and Pat Sims. She worked for Dr. Richard Weinberg for 33 years until his retirement in 2014. Kevin and Beth live south of Pinckneyville and have four adult children, Dylan Shook and Ann of Tampa, FL, Bailey Shira and her husband, Mitchell of CleElum, WA, Julie Crockett and her husband, Thomas of Washington, D.C., and James Pyatt of Austin, TX, and eight grandchildren, Lyda and Frances, Vivian, Izzy, and Colin, and Gianna, Landon, and Alexa.
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Richard Pyatt Funeral Director (1931-2017)
Dick was the son of Maurice Pyatt who was the founder of Pyatt Funeral Home. Dick passed away on September 11, 2017. It was an honor for all of us who had the chance to work with Dick. He was always teaching so that his and his father's legacy could be carried on even after they were gone. He will be forever in our hearts and is dearly missed by many.
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Cheri (Pabst) Queen Office Manager
Cheri is originally from Pinckneyville and is the daughter of Fred and Barb (Sroka) Pabst. She began working for the funeral home in 2004. She manages the funeral home, as well as assisting family members with filing insurance claims and other paperwork. She and her husband, Mike live in the Coulterville/Oakdale area and have one son, Lee.
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David Moore Funeral Director
David is from Carbondale, IL and graduated from SIU-C School of Mortuary Science, Carbondale, IL. He and his wife, Diane, live in Pinckneyville, IL. They have five sons and twelve grandchildren.
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Abel Salazar Funeral Director
Abel grew up in the North West suburbs of Chicago, IL and graduated from Rolling Meadows High School. He honorably served his country in the United States Marine Corps. After leaving the Marines he attended Northern Illinois University and Southern Illinois University Carbondale earning, among other degrees, a Bachelor’s of Arts in Criminology and a Bachelor’s of Science in Mortuary Science and eventually a Master’s of Science in Workforce Education and Development. Abel worked for and managed Riggin-Pillatsch & Burke Funeral Home in Carterville, IL. He also became a certified crematory operator. Abel taught Mortuary Science and Funeral Service at SIU-C, where in 2017 he won Teacher of the Year. He met his wife Becky while attending Northern Illinois University and has a daughter named Isabella. He is looking forward to continuing to serve and become an integral part of our community.
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Cathy (Pabst) Foutch Preneed Funeral & Monument Sales
Cathy is the daughter of the late Fred "Hun" and Ruth Pabst. She began working for the funeral home in August 2009 and assists at visitations and funerals, as well as serving as a preneed counselor. She is also an area sales representative for Nashville Memorial Company taking care of all of your cemetery marker, monument and mausoleum needs. Cathy and her husband, Keith, live in Pinckneyville.
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Jennifer Cole Office Assistant
Jennifer is originally from Collinsville, IL but relocated to DuQuoin in 2008 with Larry, her husband. She graduated from the University of Missouri - St. Louis with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology. Jennifer was a paralegal at a Carbondale law firm for 5 years, until she left in 2013, to raise their two sons, Jaxson and Austin.
