Business Details
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Funeral Service Provider in Morristown, TN
Stetzer-Bales Funeral Home has served the Morristown, Tennessee community since 1900, providing dignified and professional funeral services. Established by Martin Joseph 'Harry' Stetzer and his wife, Allie, the business transitioned to Stephen Bales in 2007, who continues the legacy of compassionate care. Our team offers personalized services including traditional funerals, cremation, veterans' honors, and pre-planned arrangements. We prioritize creating meaningful tributes that honor individual lives while supporting families through difficult times. With over a century of experience, we combine historical tradition with modern flexibility to meet diverse needs.Our 24/7 availability ensures immediate assistance whenever required, and our facility accommodates both intimate gatherings and larger memorials. We specialize in navigating complex logistics, from cemetery coordination to veterans' benefits processing. Our commitment to transparency includes clear pricing and no hidden fees, with financing options available. Recognized for our community involvement, we provide grief support resources and educational materials about end-of-life planning. Every service reflects our core values of respect, honor, and lasting remembrance.
Services
Traditional funerals
Cremation services
Veterans memorials
Pre-planned arrangements
Grief counseling
Details
- Year established: 1900
Highlights and features
- We offer 24/7 availability for immediate assistance during emergencies
- Our team includes licensed funeral directors with decades of local experience
- Specialized veterans' service coordination with military honors expertise
- Flexible pre-planning options to reduce future family decision-making stress
- Over 125 years of combined experience serving Morristown families
What people say
Professional manner
Flexible payment time
Beautiful service
Helped with unknown questions
Highly recommend
Services
Traditional Funerals
We provide comprehensive traditional funeral services including visitation, viewing, and formal ceremonies. Our staff coordinates all elements from casket selection to clergy arrangements, ensuring adherence to cultural and religious traditions. Families receive support with obituary preparation, death certificate processing, and Social Security benefit claims.
Cremation Services
Offering full-service cremation arrangements with flexible memorialization choices. Services include temporary urn provision, cemetery interment options, and scattering ceremony coordination. We explain all legal requirements while maintaining dignity throughout the process.
Veterans Memorials
Specialized planning for military veterans including flag presentation, Taps playing, and DD-214 document verification. We coordinate with local VA offices to ensure eligibility for burial benefits and headstone procurement.
Pre-Planned Arrangements
Our pre-need planning services allow individuals to document preferences and establish funding through insurance instruments. This proactive approach reduces family decision-making burdens during difficult times while locking in current pricing.
Grief Counseling
We provide ongoing grief support resources including referral to local counseling professionals and memorial anniversary reminders. Our staff maintains contact with families to ensure continued emotional support beyond the initial service period.
People
Stephen L. Bales
Owner/Funeral Director/Embalmer
Stephen has served as funeral director since acquiring the business in 2007, continuing a century-long tradition of compassionate service to Morristown families.
Karen Bales
Office Secretary and Funeral Assistant
Karen supports daily operations and family coordination, bringing organizational expertise to complement the funeral home's personalized service approach.
Rev. Terry Greene
Chaplain on Call
Rev. Greene provides spiritual support during services and visitations, offering comfort through personalized religious ceremonies and scripture readings.
Tim Webb
Funeral Assistant
Tim assists with logistics coordination, ensuring smooth execution of transportation, facility preparation, and cemetery arrangements for every service.
Scott Lee
Preneed Provider
Scott specializes in pre-planning consultations, helping families document future wishes while explaining available funding and documentation options.
Questions
What documentation is required when arranging a funeral?
We'll need the deceased's Social Security number, birth certificate, marriage/divorce records, military discharge papers (if applicable), and cemetery plot information.
Can we personalize the funeral service?
Absolutely. We encourage families to incorporate personal elements like favorite music, photo displays, and customized urns or caskets to reflect the individual's personality.
What veterans' benefits are available?
Eligible veterans receive a folded flag, Taps playing, and government headstone. We'll verify eligibility and coordinate these honors as part of our service.
Can cremation ashes be buried in a cemetery?
Yes. Most cemeteries offer urn gardens or allow interment of ashes in existing plots. We can coordinate this arrangement for families.
Do you offer payment plans?
We work with families to establish reasonable payment schedules and can explain insurance assignment options for immediate services.
