Robert Paul Pigott

Robert Paul Pigott, long term resident of Coker, Alabama, made his entrance into this world by way of West Virginia on June 12, 1940. Third child of Blake and Marie Pigott (and 10 years younger than the middle child), he was extremely close to his paternal grandparents. He referred to them as Mom and Pop. Growing up on a farm, he learned so many skills that helped later in life with his wife’s “honey-do” list.

Bob went to the University of West Virginia before being selected to go to the Air Force Academy. He was there a short period of time due to a medical issue. But there he fell in love with the western part of the United States. He finished his college career at David Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. That is where he met his future wife, Thelma.

Thelma Ruth Herren was born in Fayette County, Alabama, May 9, 1946 to Hoyt and Katherine Herren. A whopping 10 pound baby, it really didn’t surprise anyone that she was an only child. Her mother didn’t want to experience that again. She was the oldest grandchild on both sides of the family, and loved spending time with each set of grandparents, quite a few uncles, an aunt, and several cousins.

After graduating high school, Thelma went to school at David Lipscomb University, and had a work study job in the clerical office. This is where she first met Bob.

After they married, they graduated and moved to Ohio. Thelma had a teaching position, and Bob was a minister at a local church. It is while they were there that they expanded their family with the addition of Isaac. Life near an industrial river in Ohio took its toll on Isaac. He wasn’t thriving. The young family had a choice to make. For the welfare of their child, they relocated to the clean air of Idaho. Bob got to move to the area of the country he loved.

After relocating, Rachel was born. But the family would be completed a few years later when Jacob made his debut. By this time, Thelma was a stay-at-home mom, and Bob was selling insurance to provide for his family. They would take their children on numerous trips around the country, especially to visit family in Alabama and in Florida. Eventually, Bob’s widowed mother joined them in Idaho so they could look after her needs.

Thelma and Bob made the decision to move everyone to Alabama. Since Thelma was an only child, she needed to be closer to help look after her parents. Even though Bob loved the west, Alabama became his home for the next 38 years. And it truly was his home.

They moved to a house in Coker, Alabama. This was perfect as it allowed caregiver, Thelma, to be near her family and nurse them when needed. The house was close enough that their children could live at home and attend the University of Alabama – a football team that Bob learned to love. Bob continued in Sales. He later designed and built a smoker that could cook up to 200 boston butts at a time in a huge rotisserie oven. His business plan was to have organizations sell the meat for a very profitable fundraiser. In 1994, he started Firehouse BBQ. Thelma became an enroller, who would enroll people into their company’s health care benefits. Sadly, after 29 years in that home, they lost everything in a devastating

house fire. Everyone was safe, but all that remained were memories.

Bob was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Thelma traveled less to help keep Bob on Track with his schedule. Taking care of Bob became a full-time job for Thelma. She was tired. In 2020, they decided to move to Georgia to be closer to their daughter and son-in-law. Thelma started sending listings daily. She knew they needed to relocate and the sooner the better. Sadly, Thelma was having health issues in middle of the pandemic. Thelma entered the hospital on August 18, 2020. After a month of being transported back and forth to rehab and the hospital, Thelma’s body gave out. As of September 18, 2020, Bob and Thelma had been married for 53 years and 6 months. The three children were rotating responsibility and care for Bob during this time.

After selling the house, Bob moved to Georgia so Rachel could look after his needs. His health was declining in the last month. And after 18 months without Thelma, he decided it was time to be with her again.

Robert and Thelma are survived by sons, Isaac and Jacob Pigott of Birmingham, Alabama, daughter, Rachel (Mic) Remenih of Marietta, Georgia. Daughter-in-Law Brenda Pigott of Trussville, grandchildren, Laura and Ryan Pigott, and Jay and Liliana Remenih, and Brother-in-law Alan Hofses of Hixon Tennessee. Several nieces and nephews scattered across the country and cousins galore. One thing that Bob and Thelma loved was their extended family and explaining to their children “how we are related” to each person.

They were preceded in death by their parents, grandparents, and Bob’s brother, William “Bill” Pigott, sister-in-law Marilyn Greenlee Pigott, and Bob’s sister, Betty Hofses.

The Legacy of the Pigotts is not just in their family, but with the generosity and the forethought to create a business that facilitated dreams. Countless children raised funds for travel ball leagues, school trips, and world series visits. Firehouse helped support numerous adoption expenses, helped with costly repairs to churches, and even helped with finances for a lifesaving heart surgery. Bob and Thelma will be dearly missed, but their suffering is now over.

A celebration of their lives will take place in Birmingham, Alabama later this summer