Advance Planning

Planning your funeral in advance is a loving, thoughtful act you can do for your family. Prearranged funeral arrangements will spare survivors the burden of having to make difficult decisions during an emotional, stressful time. Couples can make their arrangements together today, rather than alone tomorrow. You may fund the preneed arrangements, or simply leave statistical information and instructions in our files. Our goal is to work with you to create the meaningful funeral ceremony you desire.

We have learned through the years of service experience, the more a funeral ceremony is personalized to celebrate the life of a loved one, the more meaningful it becomes to surviving family and friends. We offer personalized Memorial Folders, Video Tributes, and Memory Boards and Tables. We encourage you to personalize the music using compact disc or cassettes with your favorite song or artist. Simply bring in the disc or cassette containing the desired music. We also have a large library of music that we offer at no charge.

We offer complete plans that freeze the price of your selections regardless of future costs. Flexible payment plans allow you to fully fund your selections, or pay over time. Your funds are safe, and your plan can be financially guaranteed. Our counselors can set up advance planning programs using a bank trust, or life insurance products issued through Forethought Life Insurance Company or Homesteaders Life Company, depending upon individual, personal situations. Joe Bates of the staff, has received the Certified Preplanning Consultant (CPC) designation from the Funeral Service Educational Foundation.

Our funeral home offers the Guaranteed Child or Grandchild Protection Plan. By preplanning and prefunding your funeral service, your foresight and caring provide extra caring protection for a child or grandchild.

Upon the death of any child or grandchild, aged 18 or under, of the preplanned funeral beneficiary, the Bates Funeral Chapel shall provide -- at no charge -- the funeral services and merchandise described in the contract, for the benefit of the deceased child or grandchild. These services and merchandise shall be limited to one (1) such child or grandchild per contract. Our Guaranteed Child or Grandchild Protection Plan is an excellent incentive to preplan. It removes difficult decisions from family members, provides you with peace of mind, and provides automatic coverage for your child or grandchild.

Contact us for advance planning options; the best way of ensuring that your wishes are honored. Advance Planning brings peace of mind, for you and your loved ones.

No one will call or visit you, except by appointment at your request.

Financial Considerations

Funeral expenses are tied directly to the type of service arrangements selected. Costs of our services begin at $695.00. In addition, are the funeral variables, such as casket, vault, cemetery expenses, honorariums to a minister, musicians, grave marker, funeral luncheon, etc. Our caskets are from leading manufacturers including Batesville Casket Company and Aurora Casket Company, and range in price from $655.00 to $8000.00. A casket for the deceased can be a significant part of the cost of a funeral...or, a very small part. We carry an extensive selection of caskets for your consideration. There is never any pressure to select one casket over another. No matter how expensive or inexpensive the casket you choose, you can be assured the quality of our service and committment to you is unvarying. Outer Burial Containers from Trigard range from $695.00 to $4350.00.

We encourage you to speak candidly with any of our counselors about any financial hardship you may be experiencing. We may be able to make suggestions to minimize costs, and discuss possible sources of funding. We welcome comparison funeral prices, but urge you to consider the complete cost: casket and professional services. Most often, you will find our complete charge compares favorably with other funeral homes. We strive to provide service within the means of all.