Mabel Elizabeth (Betty/Babe) Myers Gaissert, 87, formerly of Griffin, passed away Saturday, July 10th at Pike Manor in Zebulon.

Betty was born in Macon, GA, was raised in Augusta, GA, where she and her friends loved to caddy at Augusta National. In 1949, her family moved to Dublin, GA, where she graduated from high school. She attended Georgia Southern University and The University of Georgia, where she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, played on the tennis team, and was in several other organizations.

Betty loved warm weather and salt water. When she left Griffin in the 1970’s she bought a home in Key Largo, FL, where she owned Windward Yacht Brokerage. Other future homes included Culebra, Puerto Rico, Puerto Plata, Dom. Rep., The Villages, and back in Griffin.

Betty was a great mother and grandmother. She had been a realtor for many years in Griffin, owned several businesses, was a yacht broker, had been a switchboard operator supervisor for Southern Bell, and she taught dance. She loved gardening, traveling, sailing, entertaining, spending time with her family, and especially loved to dance.

She was also a commercial hot air balloon pilot, had flown the Goodyear blimp, and sailed her 49′ Skipjack Ketch from Ft. Smith, AR, down the Mississippi to Key Largo, FL.

Betty was preceeded in death by her husband, Frank M. Gaissert, III, her parents Mabel and Bill Myers, and her sister, Dot Anderson. She leaves behind a large, beautiful family that will miss her dearly: children Beverly G. Maddox Simons, Frank M. Gaissert, IV (Penny), Allison G. Moore (Jeff), and adopted son, Julio C. Luna (Daysi). Her grandchildren are Kalyn Cardell Ward (Derrick), Will Gaissert (Kelli), Laura Maddox Dalton (Jay), Kenan Moore, Austen Moore, Grant Moore, and her adopted grandchildren include Miriam Luna (Miguel), Larry Luna, Julio A. Luna, Laura Luna, and Ashley Farrell, 2 great-grandchildren and 9 “adopted” great-grandchildren.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Betty at a later date.

The family would like to thank Christa, Leeann and the entire staff at Pike Manor, along with Southern Grace Hospice, for their wonderful care of our mother.

If you would like to make a donation in her memory, her family would appreciate donations to the following charities: The Alzheimer’s Association at 1-800-272-3900 or Winship Cancer Institute at 404-778-1900.

The Gaissert family is being assisted by Georgia Cremation, 1086 Hwy 54 West, Fayetteville. Messages of condolence may be left at www.GeorgiaCremation.com.