Hubert Dean Hyatt

August 2, 1937 - December 1, 2015

Hubert Dean Hyatt, 78, a fifty year resident of Neelyville, IL passed away just before dawn, Tuesday, December 1, 2015. He was born, August 2, 1937, in Meredosia, the son of Marvin and Alice Goforth Hyatt. Hubert married the love of his life, Jeraldine Jo Miller, October 8, 1961, in Bluffs. She preceded him in death, January 5, 2014. Surviving are his children, Debbra A. (Michael) Schene of Carmel, IN, Toni D. (David) Dove of Vero Beach, FL, R. Scott (April) Hyatt of Beardstown, IL, and Teresa L. (La Verne) Isringhausen of McLean, IL; grandchildren, Jackson, Alexandra, and Jillian Schene, Cory Hyatt, Jon, and Josh Dove, Eva Devlin, Daytin and Blake Hyatt, Michael Winkleman, Ashley (Zack) Bruner , Austin, and Jacob Isringhausen; great grandchild, Caitlyn Marie Hyatt; great step-grandchildren, Chelsea, TJ, Bristol, Brayden, Jake, and Cameron; many nieces and nephews; siblings, Mary (Robert) Brown and Charles “Buster” Hyatt all of Meredosia; brothers-in-law, Wayne (Ellen) Miller, Joseph Miller, and Edward Yeaman. He was preceded in death by sisters, Barbara Hyatt, Betty June Hyatt Walden, and Shirley Hyatt Barfield; and brother, Skipper Hyatt. Our father was an honored member of the Freemasons, a lifetime member of Perry Lodge #95, the National Rifle Association, and the Naples Boat Club. He also supported several charities throughout his life. Dad wore many hats during the course of his life-both literally and figuratively. He was an autodidact who never stopped learning and never shied away from a hard day’s work. Many of the jobs he held over the years include: foreman for Wabash/Norfolk and Western Railroad, fisherman, farmhand, shell (river mollusks) harvester, mowing machine operator for the railroad, lumberjack, carpenter, barge operator, and reservist in the Army for a short time. He was known for his adept skills in repairing or building nets for many of the commercial fisherman who operated on the Illinois and Missouri rivers. He was admired for his lifelong passion of creating beautiful and interesting objects from wood—delighting friends and relatives with his attention to detail in his creations. Some of his works have made their way into homes and businesses near and far. In his younger years he enjoyed hunting for morel mushrooms in the spring and supplying food to his family during annual hunting trips. Toward the end of his life, he lost the desire to kill any animal. Even visiting raccoons were tolerated. His treasured pecan trees, which he nurtured from seedlings, were a source of pride for him. In his final years, he took great amusement in the antics of the hummingbirds and bees, which visited the feeders around his home. Hubert had many dear friends throughout his life. His family would like to take this moment to thank all of you for the kindness and support you showed our father over the years. Several of you could be counted on during some of Dad’s most challenging moments. You helped to buoy his spirits with your calls and visits; you assisted him by bringing fresh caught game or offered to plow his drive after a snowstorm. Your kindness and generosity will never be forgotten. A quick check of his phone log revealed that he attempted to reach many of you in the months and weeks before he died. Thank goodness for cell phones. We hope that he had a chance to say what was in his heart. Lastly, thanks to the many, kind healthcare professionals who helped take care of our father over the 30 years that he battled congestive heart failure. He often remarked that he was “living on borrowed time.” Thanks to your expert care, he regained a healthy lifestyle, making it possible to be around to welcome great-grandchildren into the family. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 16, 2015, at the Daws Family Funeral Home in Bluffs. Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. until time of the service. Inurnment will be in the Meredosia Cemetery at a later date. Memorials are suggested to St. John’s Children’s Hospital.