Betty Jean Kaigler

Betty Jean (Haynes) Kaigler, age 89, a longtime resident of Savannah, Georgia passed away on October 13, 2024, after a 7 year battle with long term health issues.

She was born October 13, 1935 to Edgar Allen and Ruth Jane Plott Haynes in Tunnel Hill, Whitefield County, Georgia.

Betty spent over 25 years of her life as the military wife of CW4 James Kaigler. She was a homemaker and ran the household and raised five children alone when Jim was deployed. After Jim’s retirement from the military they moved to Savannah; at which time she decided to go to nursing school. After graduating from nursing school she spent the next 23 years as a nurse in ICU at Memorial Medical Center.

Betty and Jim were members of White Bluff United Methodist Church where she served as a greeter for Sunday services and as one of the cooks for all church functions.

Betty is survived by two daughters, Nancy Hankinson and Cynthia Dianne (Steve) Belcher; two sons, Jesse (Laura) McTaggart, and James (Elizabeth Van Hoy) Kaigler II; grandchildren, Stephanie Godbee, Ross Mann, Danielle (Dusty) Bonner, Catie (Andy) Raaker, Kaigler Mann, Erick (Brandy) Mann, Taylor Stewart, Victoria Stewart, and Noble (Emily) Beckwith; great-grandchildren, Ashley and Kimberly Schwartz, Cole and Brooke Godbee, Olivia and Callie Raaker, Ellie and Lily Mann, Colton, Dustin, and Christian Bonner and Alexander Mann. She is also survived by sister Bobbie Grotton, numerous nieces, nephews and life long friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, of almost 63 years, James Kaigler, her parents Edgar Allen and Ruth Plott Haynes; daughter, Brenda Jean Beckwith as well as 4 brothers and 4 sisters.

Betty will be fondly remembered by many for her love of beautiful hats, and dancing when she accompanied Jim on his musical tours of entertaining residents of many nursing homes in our area.

Family will be receiving friends Saturday, October 19, 2024 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Baker McCullough Funeral Home, 7415 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Savannah, GA 31406.

A Memorial Service will begin at 11:00 am in the Funeral Homes Hodgson Memorial Chapel. To view the service on Youtube please copy and paste this link:

https://www.youtube.com/live/bcY2JzCUuB0?si=lpHeNX8F0Vxxsplx 

Interment will be held at Hillcrest Abbey West, 1336 Dean Forest Rd. Savannah, GA 31405.