Obituary of Marie Delilah Hagan

Marie “Betty” D. (Kersey) Hagan, 87, was born to the late W.W. Kersey Sr. and Daisy L. Kersey, on October 13, 1931. Betty entered into Heaven’s gates on June 25, 2019, after battling Alzheimer’s.

Marie was fondly known by family and friends as Betty, and sometimes referred to as “Betty Boop”. She was born and raised in Ehren, Florida and remained a local girl until her marriage of 64 years, to the late Roy D. Hagan. Betty and Roy worked many of their early years as electrical contractors in the Land O’Lakes area. In her spare time, she often volunteered as a PTA member for Sanders Elementary School and taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School at the First Baptist Church in Land O’Lakes.

Betty also worked as a “lunchroom lady” at both Pine View Middle and Land O’Lakes High before she turned her ceramic hobby into a business that she operated for many years in Tampa. Betty so enjoyed teaching others how to make their ceramic pieces personally and uniquely their own.

Betty is survived by her two daughters, Darleen Jeffery and Wanda Moore. She is also survived by four grandchildren, in chronological order, Michael Jeffery, Leeann Lambert, Pamela Jeffery, Fred Moore Jr., and a granddaughter-in-law, Ruth Jeffery. She had three great grandchildren, Cody and Cameron Loura, and Chase Moore.

Her grandson Michael Jeffery, and his wife Ruth, asked Betty to come into their loving home these last few months of her life, giving her a respite from loneliness. It’s the kind of loneliness that hits you in the middle of the day or at night, after the kids have gone home. The family gives them and everyone else who cared for Betty their greatest and warmest gratitude.