Georgeanna Hagerman

Published 6:00 am Monday, April 1, 2024

BOWLING GREEN – Georgeanna Kerr Banks Hagerman, of Bowling Green KY, age 98, died on March 27, 2024, in Anderson SC, the home of her daughter Julie, and son-in-law, Dr. Harold Morse.

She was the beloved wife of the late Thomas Bartley Hagerman, a WWII veteran paratrooper and journalist. Their early lives together following the war were filled with Big Band music, dancing, college sports and finishing their education at Western KY University in Bowling Green. Here they raised four children, two daughters and two sons, eventually moving to Ashland, KY for their careers.

In Ashland Georgeanna was an active community and church volunteer and a fervent citizen advocate, promoting voter registration, and legislation to curb gun violence. She served as a counselor and teacher for homebound high school students in the public school system, where she not only encouraged strong academic progress, but also helped them learn specific job and life skills. She earned a Master’s Degree from Morehead State University while she was welcoming her first grandchildren.

Retiring and returning to Bowling Green with her husband, she shared her love of reading and research with members of The Browning Club and Delineators Club. As a faithful member of State Street United Methodist Church, she served on many boards and committees, played in the hand bell choir and stitched needlepoint altar cushions. She loved this church where her mother had been the organist for 48 years.

Her children say that she was absolutely the kind of person who “shows up”, showing them the way to go in life. She was there for every swim meet, first pitch, all kick-offs, piano recitals, choral concerts and plays, as well as birthing rooms, sick beds, death beds, and prayer circles.

To her grandchildren she was “Honey” and an astute listener. She knew the specifics of each one and what they needed, the words of wisdom and encouragement to keep them becoming their best selves. Her quiet strength was weaving each one into the fabric of her wonderful family.

She baked cookies for tea parties with her great granddaughters and then took them to watch airplanes take off together at the local airport. Honey was always fun!

She was pre-deceased by her parents, Mary Evelyn Kerr Banks and Charles Everett Banks, her older brother Charles E. ‘Sonny’ Banks, Jr., and sisters Evelyn Banks Bohannon and Jane Banks Lamb, all of Bowling Green.

She is survived by her four children, Kemble Garrett of Washington D.C., Julie Morse of Anderson, S.C., Tom Hagerman of Lexington, KY and David Hagerman of Ashland, KY, as well as her daughter-in-law, Ellen Hagerman and son-in-law Harold Morse.

She is also survived by her eight beloved grandchildren, Georgeanna Morse (Ted) Goldthorpe, Elizabeth Banks Morse (Jonathan Rogers), Chet (Claire) Morse, Joseph Morse, Bartley Hagerman, Andy Hagerman, Lindsay Hagerman, and David Hagerman, Jr., as well as great-granddaughters: Anne, Paige and Jane Goldthorpe, Sarah Taylor, Elsie Georgeanna Morse, Ayres, Evie and Maeve Hagerman, and many, many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

She would want her family to acknowledge their profound appreciation for the exceptional support and friendship of Jim and Jan Bohannon, Arcadia Senior Living Community/Memory Care staff, and Mr. Leonard Boards in Bowling Green, as well as her last nursing friend, Iris Campbell of Belton SC, and her beloved granddog, Marley.

A gathering of her family and friends at State Street United Methodist Church will be announced at a later date, with a committal service for the family to follow. Memorials may be made to State Street United Methodist Church Endowment Fund, 1101 State Street, Bowling Green, KY; or to Western Kentucky University Scholarship Fund, 1906 College Heights Avenue, Bowling Green, KY; or to the Anderson Free Clinic, P.O. Box 728, Anderson, SC.

Condolences may be left for the family by visiting WWW.MCDOUGALDFUNERALHOME.COM.