Obituary of Bette J. Bateman

Bette J. Bateman  

Bette J. Bateman, 91, of West Norriton, passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2020.

Born  and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, she was named for the movie star, Bette Davis, and she loved her
name.   She was the daughter of the late Ralph M. Davis, Sr. and Madelyne (Stephenson) Davis and the
wife and soul mate of the late William H. Bateman. She joined him to live in Norristown and the two later
established their home together in West Norriton township.

Survivors include daughter Beth Pirkey of Lakeland, Florida, daughter Barbra Bateman of West Norriton,
PA  (partner, Peter T. Doyle, Atlantic Highlands, NJ.), brother Jack B. Davis of Little Rock, Arkansas, niece
Jacquelyne  (Richard) March of Pottstown, PA, niece Patti (Michael) Saucier of Conway, Arkansas. She is
also survived by grandchildren Christopher (Jill) March Pottstown, PA„ Elizabeth (Ryan), Buckwalter of
Douglasville, PA, Lauren (Jacob) Mefford of Commercial Point, Ohio and Jonathan (& Anika) Pirkey of Morgantown, WV and her great grandchildren Alex, Jack,
Katie and Molly March, Madelyne  Buckwalter  and Hudson Mefford.

She  was preceded in death by her husband Bill and by brother Ralph M. Davis, Jr. of Little Rock, Arkansas.

Bette was a true southern lady. She could and would  talk to anyone and make them  feel right at
home.   She was a homemaker,  previously had worked  as a bookkeeper  for the Gus Blass Department
Store in Little Rock, Parke-Davis and Company in Memphis, TN and Walker Brothers  in Conshohocken,
PA.  She loved making candy and  chocolate covered pretzels, putting them in beautiful packages and
giving them to  family, friends and anyone else she thought would appreciate the gift. She made beautiful
crafts for many years and could have had a successful home business doing that, but she did it for fun and
the joy of giving gifts. She was generous to all and supported many organizations including Jeffersonville
Fire Company  No. 1, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, the Wounded Warrior Project, the Missionary
Sisters of Charity in Norristown, the Salvation Army and other charities she loved. After being rescued in
her youth by her brothers from nearly every lake in Arkansas in their well-intentioned attempts to make a
swimmer  of her, she was proud to serve as pool monitor for her local community of Stonybrook and  met
her friends at the pool there on a daily basis. She loved the sun and the camaraderie of the community.

She  was a member of Visitation B.V.M. church, a decades-long  member of its Women's Guild and Sodality
and  served as a volunteer at the right hand of Visitation B.V.M. School's principal for many years.

Bette was strong willed and fought very hard to overcome  her most recent illnesses. She was stubborn
and did not want to  give infirmity the win.

Special thanks to those who cared for her at Suburban  Woods.  She was known there as "Miss Bette" and
was  a cooperative, loved and respected resident. Special thanks to Vinette, social worker who worked with
our  family and checked on her daily to monitor her care, to Nurse Chris who diligently gave updates and
encouragement    and to Nurse Charles who provided compassionate, expert hands-on  care as well as all of
the other caregivers that provided her with endless comfort during her stay with them.

Thanks go, too, to Stonybrook neighbors were so kind to her, especially Judy, Pat, Charlene, Jim, Bob,
Noah, Sarah  and Helen who   made it a point to visit her frequently. We can never thank them enough for
their support and love.

Her  service and entombment  will be private at St. Patrick's Cemetery, East Norriton, PA.

There will be a memorial   Mass and celebration of her life which will be announced at a later date, the
delay being  due to mandatory   precautions enforced  as a result of the global pandemic.

Memorial  contributions  may be made   in her   memory to Jefferson Fire Company  No 1, the Wounded
Warrior Project, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements by Moore, Snear & Ruggiero Funeral Home, 19 East Germantown Pike, East Norriton, PA, (610) 277-1600.
www.msrfh.com.