Freda Elizabeth Pyatt, daughter of the late Farris “Dee” and Catherine (Gillham) Hill, was born July 3, 1936, in Fair Grove, Missouri, and departed this life October 30, 2024, at her home near Hartville, Missouri.
Freda attended 1-8th grade at Olive School, a one-room school house in Dallas County, Missouri. She attended Fair Grove High School graduating with the class of 1954. After high school she was united in marriage to Gerald Thomlinson in the fall of 1954, and two children, Robin and Steven, were born to this union. Freda was a proud homemaker raising her children while working the farm and later enjoyed waitressing.
Freda later met Bill Pyatt at the MFA Feeder Pig barn in Mansfield. Their love blossomed and they were united in marriage in August of 1977. They started Pyatt’s Piggery together at their farm near Odin. They farmed side-by-side together until Bill’s passing in 2008. Freda and Bill were truly a team. She would rake hay while he bailed, and they each had their own combine and made quick work of a field. Freda was no stranger to hard work!
Bill and Freda were active members of Mt. Zion Baptist Church for their entire marriage. After Bill’s passing, Freda continued to attend faithfully.
Freda loved living in the small community of Hartville and was a great neighbor. She and Bill were also huge Hartville Eagles fans. A highlight of her week was attending the Senior Center and participating in the fellowship, meals, and Bingo. Some of her other hobbies included gardening, canning and collecting pig figurines. Freda had rescued, bottle-fed, and raised many stray critters, including squirrels and turkeys. In her later years, she enjoyed the company of her beloved cat, Betty Jo.
Besides her parents, Freda was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Pyatt, one son, Steven Thomlinson, one brother, David Hill, and one sister, Alice Knepper.
She is survived by two daughters: Robin Summey (Charles) of Cartersville, Georgia, and Eileen Johnson of Melrose, Florida, two sons: Everett Pyatt (Jeanette) of Hartville, Missouri, and Dean Pyatt (Loretta) of Hartville, Missouri, 12 grandchildren: Melinda Green, Kenny Green (Kayla), Brad Thomlinson (Deana), Jared Pyatt (Maria), Amy Gray (Brandon), Lindsay Battiato (Nick), Jamin Pyatt (Hannah), Anthony Pyatt, Chelsie Pyatt (James), Joseph Pyatt, Logan Pyatt (Michaela), and Josh Feagin, 18 great-grandchildren, one brother: Lowell Hill (Janice), two sisters: Marsha Owen and Sharon Dodson (Tim), and many nephews, nieces, extended family and friends who will miss her.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hartville Senior Center in care of the funeral home.
