ROCKAWAY TWP. - Debi (Bates) Merse of Rockaway Township died Friday, May 14, 2004, at St. Clare's Hospital /Denville. She was 43.

Debi was born in Indianapolis, and lived most of her life in southern California and Northridge, Calif.

She has been a resident of Rockaway Township for the last three years.

She was employed in California as a commercial property manager.

She was a licensed real estate agent in New Jersey.

In 2003, Debi was appointed to the Rockaway Township Board of Education and recently won election to that position.

She was the director of the Rockaway Township Competition Cheerleading 2003-2004 session.

Debi was active in the Brownie and Girl Scout troops that her daughters were in.

Debi was a homemaker.

She was married for 18 years to her beloved husband, Anthony J. Merse.

Debi was a devoted mother to her three daughters, Nikole, Melanie and Chelsea.

She is also survived by her parents, Jane Darin of San Diego and David Bates of Hermosa Beach, Calif.; her two brothers, John Bates of Los Angeles, and Greg Bates of Phoeniz; and two sisters, Rebecca Bates of Carlsbad, Calif. and Barbara Bates of San Diego.

Funeral from the Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Ave., Denville, www.normandean.com, on Wednesday, May 19, at 8:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. Liturgy of Christian Burial service at St. Cecilia's Church in Rockaway.

Relatives and friends will be received Tuesday, May 18, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.

Memorial donations to Make-A-Wish Foundation of N.J., P.O. Box 4028, 1034 Salem St., Union, N.J. 07083-7058.