About
Upcoming Events
Feb
12
Funeral service
11:00 a.m.
Queen-Lee Chapel
431 High Street, Shoals, IN 47581
Send FlowersBook nearby hotelsServices provided by
Queen Lee Chapel of George Funeral Care, LLC - ShoalsOnly 3 hours left for delivery to next service.
Merrill Bateman Obituary
Merrill Bateman
November 8, 1951 - February 8, 2026
Merrill Bateman, 74, of Shoals, passed away surrounded by his family on Sunday, February 8, 2026 at Redcrest Hospice House, in Bloomington.
Born November 8, 1951, in Bedford, he was the son of Alvin and Alice (Taylor) Bateman.
Merrill attended Shoals School.
He married Rosalee Jones in November of 1983; and she survives.
Merrill worked at NSWC Crane, retiring from transportation department. He was a veteran of the United States Army.
He loved hunting, fishing, cutting firewood, playing softball, and spending time with his kids and grandkids.
Surviving to cherish his memory are his wife, Rosalee; children, Bo (Miriam) Bateman, Casey Heckard, Boomer (Amanda) Heckard, Julie (Adam) Walton, Joey (Erin) Bateman, and Krissy Smith; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; siblings, Gale Noble and Debbie (Harold) Sipes; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral service will be at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at the Queen-Lee Chapel of George Funeral Care with Terry Phillips officiating. Burial will follow in Trinity Springs.
Visitation will be from 4-7 P.M. on Wednesday, at the Queen-Lee Chapel in Shoals.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, in memory of Merrill Bateman.
Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.queenlee.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
431 High Street, Shoals, IN 47581
People and places connected with Merrill
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Memories and Condolences
for Merrill Bateman
Make a Donation
in Merrill Bateman's name
Please consider a donation as requested by the family.
How to support Merrill's loved ones
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreWays to honor Merrill Bateman's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
Upcoming Events
Feb
12
Funeral service
11:00 a.m.
Queen-Lee Chapel
431 High Street, Shoals, IN 47581
Send FlowersBook nearby hotelsServices provided by
Queen Lee Chapel of George Funeral Care, LLC - ShoalsOnly 3 hours left for delivery to next service.