Murl Bateman Sr.
Murl G. Bateman, Sr. age 84, of Pine Bluff passed away Friday, October 2, 2015 at his home. He was born in Monticello on August 12, 1931 to the late Vester Bateman and Beatrice Collins Bateman.
He was a United States Army veteran, having served in the Korean War, three tours of duty in the Vietnam War, and four years in Germany. He received three bronze stars, a good conduct medal (3rd award), Army medal ARCOM Viet Nam Service medal w/ 60 Dev, Aircraft Crewman Badge, and VSM NDSM (1st OLC). He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and loved his grandchildren. He also enjoyed watching the deer after becoming disabled, and kept count of the number of them he saw over a period of three years in his back yard, totaling 1,052 in all. He was a very loving husband, father and friend, and was referred to as the “Sherriff of Shannon Road”.
Other than his parents, he was also preceded in death by one son, Michael Anthony Bateman; one sister, Shirley Bateman Carpenter; and one granddaughter, Kelly Bateman Coburn.
Murl is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mildred Davis Bateman; two sons, Murl Gene Bateman, Jr. and wife Terry, and Marc Devon Bateman and wife Debbie all of Pine Bluff; one daughter, Patricia Lynn Miller and husband Chuck of Magnet Cove; one sister, Elizabeth Bateman Hawkins of Orange, Texas; two brothers Robert Bateman of Monticello, and Delbert Bateman of White Hall; eight grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren.
Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at the Shannon Road Baptist Church, 6817 Shannon Road, Watson Chapel with Rev. Josh Blevins and Rev. Gene Triplett officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, October 5, 2015 at the church. Burial with full military honors will be in Gaster Hill Cemetery, Highway 35 West in Monticello. Arrangements by Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home, Monticello AR. Online guestbook: www.stephensondearman.com