About Us

Matt grew up in rural Wilmington and is a son of Violette (Hansen) Baskerville and the late Robert M. Baskerville, Jr. Matt graduated from Wilmington High School and attended Joliet Junior College, National Louis University in Evanston, Illinois and Northwestern University, as well as Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Illinois. Matt has been a licensed funeral director since 1995 and holds an Illinois Life Insurance Producers License to handle prepaid, prearranged funeral services. He has earned the designation as a Certified Preplanning Consultant (CPC), as well as a Certified Crematory Operator (CCO) by the National Funeral Directors Association; maintains his credentials as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) through the Academy of Funeral Service Practice and earned his Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certification from Cremation Association of North America (CANA). In addition, Matt assists families as a Certified Funeral Celebrant, and acquired his training through the Insight Institute with acclaimed author and bereavement educator Doug Manning and Glenda Stansbury.

Matt's musical abilities gained his involvement with the Reeves family since the early age of 12. It was during his junior high years that he began playing the organ for funerals on a regular basis. For over 30 years, he has continued to provide music for most of the local churches of all denominations.

Matt is a member of the Board of Directors for Oakwood Cemetery Association in Wilmington; belongs to the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, who honored him as Business Person of the Year in 2021 and the Wilmington Downtown Merchants Association. He also served as Secretary, and a Board Member for The Wilmington School District 209-U Foundation for Excellence and is currently a Morris Hospital Foundation board member.

Matt is a member of the Will-Grundy County Funeral Service Association, Illinois Funeral Directors Association, where he served as a region one board member, and was voted by his peers to serve in all the chairs of the executive committee commencing as President in 2023-2024.  In addition Matt is honored to be active with the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), where he served as a committee member, and formerly chaired the Pursuit of Excellence Task Force Program. He is also on the Spokesperson Team for the association. Matt was selected as a Mentor for the NFDA and Funeral Service Foundation''s Meet the Mentors Program at Emory University in 2018. He attended the very same program as a Mentee at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and became the first Mentee to be asked to return as a Mentor to young up and coming funeral directors from across the United States. Matt has also served as a presenter for NFDA and participated in workshops including topics such as providing award winning service, working with families who have lost loved ones to tragic death, consumer trends, and creating a legacy as a first generation funeral director.

Matt has a passion for service to families, and has been blessed to build a team of loyal co-workers that hold the same core values and dedication to funeral service.

In his limited free time, Matt is a foodie that enjoys traveling, collecting antiques and enjoying the theater and arts. As passionate as he is in serving his communities, he equally enjoys his time away to rejuvenate in Florida with his Island Minidoodle, Xander.

Alex is a Funeral Director and Embalmer that has been working full-time for Reeves and Baskerville Funeral Homes since April of 2014. He previously served his apprenticeship here as well from 2011 to 2012. Alex is a graduate of Reed-Custer High School, Class of 2007, in Braidwood where he was raised, and Worsham College of Mortuary Sciences where he achieved an Associates of Applied Sciences degree. He currently resides in Minooka with his beautiful wife Katrina and their son Elijah Peter. In his free time enjoys supporting Chicago sports teams, especially the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Blackhawks.

Laura was welcomed to the Reeves & Baskerville team in April of 2024 as a Funeral Director and Embalmer Intern, which officially commenced on July 9, 2024.

She and her entire family are from the Braidwood community, and she is a graduate of Reed-Custer High School with the Class of 2020.

She attended Joliet Junior College, where she graduated with a degree in paralegal studies, prior to transferring to Worsham College of Mortuary Science, where she graduated with the March Class of 2024.

In her leisure time, Laura enjoys going to see live bands and performances, playing with her many puppies, and lounging around reading a good book.

Sheila joined Matt Baskerville in 2011 as a visitation attendant and now works with the entire Reeves and Baskerville team full time out of our business office in Coal City. Sheila also enjoys working and assisting families during visitations, funerals and throughout the community year round.

Leo is a third generation funeral director and embalmer. He and his wife Karen took over the Coal City and Morris funeral homes following the death of Leo's father. Together they continue to provide support to Matt and the entire team.

Rich's career in funeral service began in 1972 and for over 5 decades he has been of service to the surrounding communities. His education includes being a graduate of Joliet Junior College, Illinois State University and Worsham College of Mortuary Science

He is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Illinois Funeral Directors Association and the Morris Chamber of Commerce, as well as a devoted and active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Morris.

Savannah has worked  at Fruland Funeral Home since 2017. She is a graduate of Morris Community High School, attended Joliet Junior College and was graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science. She is currently a funeral director and embalmer intern.

She is an associate member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the Illinois Funeral Directors Association.

Pictured with Savannah is Cooper (Certified Therapy Dog) and Prada who is in training.

Mary has been a dedicated team member at Fruland Funeral Home since 2001. She is a graduate of Bible Baptist Academy, studied at Joliet Junior College, and is currently a student at Worsham College of Mortuary Science.

Mary previously managed Floral Designs and Gifts in Morris, and is an active member of Christ First Baptist Church in Minooka.

Violette joined Reeves Funeral Homes, Ltd. in the Fall of 2008 after retiring from The Harford Financial Services in Aurora. Violette is the daughter of Ellen (Stott) Allen of Missouri and formerly Morris, and the late Frank Hansen. She was raised and educated in Morris and currently resides in Wilmington. Violette is the mother of: Michael (Patricia) Baskerville of Coal City and Matthew Baskerville of Wilmington, and she has three grandchildren. Violette assists Matt in working with families during advanced funeral planning and at time of need. Violette is licensed by the State of Illinois as an insurance producer, has earned her credentials as a Certified Funeral Celebrant and was designated by the National Funeral Directors Association as a Certified Preplanning Consultant. She is instrumental with our advanced funeral planning program and also works with families to create personalized cemetery monuments and memorials. Violette is based out of the Wilmington funeral home office, however is available anytime, at any one of our locations.

Katie is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and her primary job to to provide comfort and smiles to those who come into the funeral homes. Katie is a graduate of the AKC Good Citizen Program, and was certified as a Therapy Dog in November of 2019 through Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Violette Baskerville is her full time and primary handler, and in addition to spending time at the funeral home, Violette and Katie also visit nursing homes and skilled care facilities. Katie has become our most popular staff member since joining the family in July 2018!

Leroy has been a dedicated team member at Fruland Funeral Home for many years. He is a graduate of Morris High School and a lifelong resident of Morris.

He served as a former Volunteer Fireman with the Morris Fire Department, and is an active member of The First United Methodist Church in Morris, as well as many other community affairs.

Sandi is a very caring and compassionate person. She also is a volunteer for many organizations.

Sandi retired from the Grundy County American Red Cross in 2005 after 25 years of service, however still remains active with the Red Cross as a volunteer. She and her husband Dan have responded to many national disasters, including hurricanes: Rita, Isaac, and Sandy, as well as locally during the Illinois Floods and the Diamond and Coal City Tornadoes. Her dedication to the Red Cross has at times deployed her for weeks at a time.

Sandi is active with the Grundy Community Volunteer Hospice, where she serves as the Secretary for the Auxiliary board. She is on the board, and has been past President of the Grundy County Historical Society, where she was proud to be very involved in the committee for building the new Historical Museum in Morris.

Sandi's hobbies entail traveling, genealogy, gardening, decorating, boating, camping, family, friends, and attending all of her grand children’s activities.

Sandi currently resides in Morris with her husband Dan. She has two grown children, daughter Michelle and son Kelly. She also has four beautiful grandchildren.

Sandi has been working visitations with Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Homes since 2013. She feels so honored to be part of such compassionate and dedicated professionals, who are of the highest integrity.

Born in Streator to Ralph and Marge Yedinak, Jan attended schools in Ransom, Seneca and Morris. She is a 1964 graduate of Morris Community High School and attended Joliet Junior College, where her studies focused in Psychology. Jan married Ron Hibler in 1971 and worked with Ameritech and A.T.&T. for 30 years, until retiring in 1994. After retirement she began working part-time with Ruby Begonia's Boutique in Morris in 1996, and that is where you can still find Jan on various days when she is not greeting families and guests at one of our funeral homes.

Jan has been a volunteer with Grundy Community Hospice since 1997, and served as Hospice Auxiliary President since 1999. She is an active member of Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Minooka since 1980 where she sings in the choir and serves as a Eucharistic minister. Jan is a member of Cantigny V.F.W. Auxiliary in Joliet and enjoys being an active member of the Grundy County Historical Society, where she takes great pleasure in the annual Festival of Trees fundraiser.

In her free time, Jan loves gardening, decorating and antiquing. She cherishes her nieces and nephews and enjoys helping and caring for others. Jan is happy and proud to be a member of the Reeves and Baskerville funeral homes team, and we at the funeral homes are equally as honored to have her represent and be a part of our funeral home family.

John is a part-time team member with Fruland Funeral Home. He is a graduate of Morris High School and Joliet Junior College

John is an active member at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, and currently serves on the deacon board.