Alethea Dossett Brooks Bateman

Alethea Dossett Brooks Bateman, of Waco, died peacefully Sunday June 7, 2026, surrounded by her family.

A visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 pm on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, and we will celebrate Alethea’s life with a memorial service at 1:00 pm Thursday, June 18, 2026, at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, 515 Columbus Avenue, with The Rev. Samantha Smith officiating.

Alethea was born on August 22, 1945, the first daughter of Jane Dossett Brooks and J Leigh Brooks. She was the first granddaughter of Alethea Sleeper Dossett and Walter Brown Dossett, joining an expansive and loving family. From her youngest days, she lived as a free spirit, adventurous and fearless. In 1947, her sister Sarah was born, in whom Alethea found a best friend and companion for her escapades. She attended St. Alban’s Day School, Sanger Avenue Elementary, Lake Air, and Waco High School. She made lifelong friendships in school and travelled annually with her high school friends after graduation.

Alethea attended the University of Texas and Baylor University and was a member of Pi Beta Phi women’s fraternity. In her sophomore year of college, she met the love of her life, an English transplant to Tyler, Piers Bateman, on a blind date arranged by her aunt Frances “Poosie” Swann. Alethea was a debutante with the Hedonia Club of Waco, when her escort was made unavailable due to an impending blizzard. How fortuitous the change of weather and kindness of an aunt were, ultimately bringing Alethea 59 years of happy marriage and three children, Giles, Laura, and Andrew.

Alethea loved being involved in her children’s activities, assisting with art projects and minicourses at Saint Paul’s Day School, including kite flying, juggling, and bike riding to Cameron Park. She led her daughter’s Bluebonnet troop for many years and served on the Saint Paul’s School Board. She was very proud of her five grandchildren, Brooks, Sarah, Juliet, Lucy, and Arabella. She referred to her grandchildren as her treasures and loved nothing more than being with them.

Alethea was an artist by her very nature, creating and supporting art in all forms. She worked independently as a children’s photographer and was an accomplished artist, known well as an excellent painter. She painted two of the 40 Wacows that were auctioned as part of a fundraiser for the Art Center of Waco in 2000: ‘Florence, the Oaxacan Cow’ and ‘There’s No Place Like Home.’ Florence has been a recognizable and celebrated fixture at the entrance of Saint Paul’s Day School for the last 25 years. Alethea served on the Art Center Board, was a member of the Art Center Legacy Group, and was a longtime patron of the Waco Symphony Orchestra. Her artistic mind experienced synesthesia, the overlapping of senses, and saw numbers, words, and music as vivid colors.

Alethea was a friend to all animals, loving german shepherds in particular. She served on the Waco Zoo Board and supported the Waco Humane Society. She was a member of The Junior League of Waco, the Woman’s Club, and was a lifelong member of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church. She spent much of her time reading and enjoyed traveling, especially many trips with friends and family to Chautauqua in Colorado and The Swag in North Carolina.

Alethea was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Andrew Bateman, her sister, Sarah Sheppard Levine, and her granddaughter, Camellia Indergard.

She is survived by her husband, Piers Bateman; her son Giles Bateman and wife, Jennifer Bateman, of Austin; her daughter Laura Bateman Indergard and husband, Mike Indergard of Waco; her grandchildren Brooks, Juliet, and Arabella Indergard, and Sarah and Lucy Bateman; her sister-in law Nicola Bateman Appleby of Berkshire, England; her brother-in-law Giles H. L. Bateman and wife Liz, of Cheshire, England and Del Mar, California; her sister-in-law Prue Bateman Crosby and husband Mike, of Cheshire, England; her nieces Jennie Sheppard, of Waco, and Susannah Sheppard Benner and husband, Bob Benner, of Concord, Massachusetts; Annabel Holmes Naden of Cheshire, England, Lisa Bateman Khoury and husband, Jason Khoury, of Rancho Santa Fe, California; Stephanie Adler Lex, and husband Joe Lex, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Melody Adler Brue, of Austin; Lys Appleby Hayles and husband, Curtis Hayles, of Berkshire, England; Joelle Appleby Buck, of Berkshire, England; her nephews Danny Crosby and wife, Annie Crosby of Ribérac, France; Matthew Bateman and wife, Sarah Bateman, of Del Mar, California; her great-nephews Ben Sheppard, Ned Benner, Drew Hayles, Sebastian Buck, Nico Khoury, Trevor, Joshua, and Nathan Parrette; her great nieces Lela and Jane Benner, Emily Holmes-Naden, Jasmine Hayles, Maya and Siena Bateman, Isabelle Khoury, and Hailey Brue; and a host of beloved cousins.

The family is grateful to Claudia, Lucy, Gladys, Nicole, Mar’ryah, Cynthia, Maria, and Cheyenne of Divine Home Care and Interim Hospice of Waco for all their many kindnesses, their gentleness and compassion, and who comforted and guided her family caregivers.

For those who choose to attend the memorial service, the family encourages colorful clothing in celebration of Alethea’s vibrant life. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts be made to Art Center of Waco, Saint Paul’s Episcopal Day School, or the charity of your choice.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory of Alethea in her “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WHBfamily.com.