Carolyn Kaigler Elrod

Carolyn Kaigler Elrod passed away on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at the age of 82. She was native to Louisiana, raised in St. Landry, graduated from Gonzales High, served in the US Navy, married a US Marine, moved all over the country, and retired to Gonzales, LA to be near her family. As a child, she worked hard to help her family whom she was fiercely protective over. As a teenager, she was a good student and loved to dance. As the wife of a US Marine, she lived in Virginia and the Carolinas as well as California and Hawaii, her favorite duty station. She and her husband, Jim, enjoyed simple things like a picnic on the beach and cooking out. As a mother of young children, Carol was a homemaker. She and her son, James, enjoyed watching Price is Right together. She also loved to sew. Her crowning work was a purple satin gown sewn for her daughter, Amy, to wear in her school’s May Day celebration. As her children got older, Carol went back to work. She had an incredible work ethic, and employers loved her. One of her mottos was “I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.” She loved to buy new things, especially clothes, shoes, and purses. She worked several jobs in telecommunications at phone companies and hospitals. She also worked many years in the retail sales industry and was a Pace Setter at Dillards. Carol also worked for the State of Louisiana in Wildlife and Fisheries, State Police, and Motor Vehicles where she retired. She only had two grandchildren, and she was very proud of both Sean and Kelsey. She spent lots of time with them when they were little and asked about them daily when they were grown. Her son, James, followed in her footsteps and joined the Navy before becoming a truck driver. She was very proud to see him continue the family legacy of military service. As a senior, Carol enjoyed outings to JoAnn Fabrics and lunch dates at Mike Anderson’s. At home, she loved to sit in her chair, and hold her dog, Sammy, and his “twin cat sisters” while talking on the phone and watching her favorite TV shows, especially Judge Judy. Carol is survived by her children Amy Elrod Creel (Wayne) of Baton Rouge, LA and James David Elrod of Salt Lake City, Utah; grandchildren Sean Creel (Lauren) and Kelsey Creel; sisters Kathleen Bardwell (Joe), Patricia Edmonston, Evie Ficklin and brother John David Kaigler Jr (Sandra); sister-in-law Barbara Cox and Brother-in-law Charles Jackson both of AL, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents Ellen and John David Kaigler Sr, paternal grandparents William and Evie Kaigler, maternal grandparents Corbett, and Eva Leyser, and her husband of 53 years, Retired Master Sargent James Ronald “Jim” Elrod. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, Oct 4, 2023, from 9 a.m. until the funeral service at 11 a.m. at Ourso Funeral Home – Gonzales, La. She will be laid to rest at the Louisiana National Cemetery, 303 W. Mt. Pleasant Rd, Zachary, La. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.oursofh.com for the Elrod family.