Beatrice Hagerty

Beatrice "Bunny" Elaine Hagerty March 24, 1947 - April 6, 2015 Biloxi - MS Beatrice "Bunny" Elaine Hagerty, age 68, died Monday, April 6, 2015 at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, MS. from unknown complications associated with Cancer. Beatrice was born in Flint, MI and grew up in Swartz Creek, MI, the daughter of William Leroy Hill and Joy Berteen (Hignite) Hill. She was a graduate of the Swartz Creek High School, Class of 1965. Beatrice is a United States Air Force Veteran where she served with honor as an Airman Second Class and Dental Specialist at Hancock Air Force Base, New York from 1965-1967 earning the National Defense Service Medal and Cold War Recognition Certificate. During this time, she met Larry Allen Hagerty or Pryor, OK and their romance quickly blossomed into a 25 year marriage. Beatrice "Bunny" was an avid reader with a brief career in the aviation industry while working for Petroleum Helicopters International (PHI) on the Gulf Coast. She continued to purse her education after 55 years of age where she completed two Master Degrees in Library Science and Health Science. Bunny was very much into the Arts and taught herself to play the guitar and to create hand-made jewelry. She is a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism and the American Legion in Tupelo, MS. Bunny was known as the Bead Wrangler for her love of creating jewelry. She frequented Comic-Con where she became close friends with the science fiction author, Anne McCaffrey. Bunny was a natural born mother and caregiver who supported her Sister Jean (Kirk) How and taking care of her grandson, Zack who survived a catastrophic car accident. She is also a direct descendant of William Jordan (7th Cavalry of Virginia) who fought during the American Revolutionary War. She will be admitted to the Daughters of the American Revolutionary War (DAR) through the Michigan Chapter. Mrs. Hagerty is survived by five children, Robert Wayne Hagerty, MAJ, U.S. Army, James William Hagerty, Gregory Allen Hagerty, Stacey Elaine Hagerty, and Tabitha Lynn Hagerty. Bunny also leaves behing 17 grandchildren with one grandchild living with a new family in Ireland and seven great-grandchildren. Military Honors were conducted today at 11 a.m. at the Biloxi National Cemetery where she will be interred.