Obituary of Elizabeth Bates

BATES, Elizabeth, age 79 of Lebanon, passed away on September 18, 2023.

In life, Elizabeth was known to her friends and family as a kind soul who loved to serve others. She would often cook meals and deliver them to friends around town and the local nursing homes when she could as a labor of love. Being an avid cook, Elizabeth was known for her famous banana pudding by those who knew her! She loved the beach and spending time with her family. Along with being a Godly mother, wife, and grandmother, she also loved spending time with her fur baby, Riley, a very special, four-legged member to her family.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, William Sharpe and Lottie Braswell Sharpe; and her siblings, Anne Greene and William Sharpe. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Robert Wayne Bates; her sons, Skip (Carol) Bates and Steve (Gail) Burnette; daughter, Terry (Steve) Merritt; her sisters, Darlene (Paul) Bates & Gail Smith; grandchildren Del Merritt, Holly (Dustin) Hepburn, Stephanie (George) Neal, Brandon (Rachel) Burnette, and Brittany Brown; great-grandchildren, Aurora and Helen Neal, and Jamison and Winnie McVey. Additionally, Elizabeth is survived by her best friends, Gloria Lemmons, and Jean Merkle as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be Friday, September 22nd at 2 pm at Sellars Funeral Home at Mt. Juliet with Pastor Will McReynolds and Pastor Wade Cummins officiating. Interment will follow the service at Mt. Juliet Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be Thursday, September 21st from 4-8 pm and Friday, September 22nd from 1 pm until time of service. 

Arrangements by Sellars Funeral Home at Mt. Juliet, 2229 N. Mt. Juliet Road, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122, 615-758-5459, obituary line 615-758-8818, www.sellarsfuneralservices.com