Horace Ray Gore, Sr., 82 of Columbus, MS passed away Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at Baptist Memorial Hospital – Golden Triangle, Columbus, MS.

Visitation for Mr. Gore will be Saturday, April 19, 2025, from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM at Fairview Baptist Church, Columbus, MS.  A funeral service will follow at 1:00 PM with Bro. Sammy Crawford officiating and Bro. Tommy Gillion assisting.  Interment will be at Friendship Cemetery, Columbus, MS with Lowndes Funeral Home directing.

Mr. Gore was born August 30, 1942, to the late Horace Gore and Willie Mae Bennett Gore in Columbus, MS.  He attended S.D. High School and Mississippi State University.  In addition to his parents, Mr. Gore was preceded in death by his wife – Margaret Ann Grafton Gore.

Mr. Gore went into business for himself at the age of 21 and worked as the owner of PermaCorp, an underground utilities contractor, for 61 years. He served many roles in the Mississippi Association of General Contractors (AGC), including President and Board Member. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the AGC. He served on the board of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority.

Although Mr. Gore was well-known in the community for building and maintaining a successful business, he should be remembered for his wide-ranging service to his family, friends, and community. He was a member of Fairview Baptist Church, Columbus, MS.  He loved cooking for the masses. After attending the Emmaus Walk, he served as Kitchen Coordinator for many years, feeding attendees and volunteers. He cooked for the Wild Game Feast at Fairview Baptist Church for more than 25 years, and also for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He volunteered as an Assistant Scout Master for the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 3, assisting his son and countless other young men with that program.

He was an avid outdoorsman, hunting quail, pheasant, and deer and fishing fresh and saltwater fish. He also loved caring for his dogs and cattle.

Mr. Gore is survived by his fiancée – Ellen Wright; daughter – Cyndi (Shawn) Sullivan; son – Ray (Kym) Gore, Jr.; sister – Janete Smitherman; grandchildren – Margaret Ann Sullivan and Cate Gore; nieces – Cathy Levesque and Diane Pimentel; and nephew – Pete Williams.

The family of Mr. Gore would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Rincon, Dr. Rosenblatt, Dr. Boyd, Dr. Estes, Dr. Whitecar, the doctors and nurses of CCU at Baptist Memorial- Golden Triangle; Kathy Hanson, Dr. Brad Brown, Dr. James Woodard, Alyssa Gillis and the Staff of No. Mississippi Cardiology Group of Columbus, and Nichole Pugh.

Pallbearers will be Don Durst, Russell Sheffield, Jamie Baucom, Bo Holman, Bill Sullivan, Randy Wright, Chris Maxey, and Keith Bryant.  Honorary pallbearers will be Leslie Baucom, David Gray, William "Whodo" Maxey, Lisa Davis, Dr. Charlie Rhea, Jayne Kushner, David Shelton, Larry Fretz Sr., Ralph McClain, Dr. Charles Dahlke, Dr. Gerry Jeffcoat, Dr. Jason Blalock, Bob Ferguson, Bo Harris, Charlie Turner, Alonzo Phillips, Rivers Dickerson, Shawn Sullivan and John Partridge.

Memorials may be made to Fairview 55+ Ministry, 127 Airline Rd, Columbus, MS  39702; The Wood College Collective, P.O. Box 2852 Columbus, MS  39704;  Christain Camp of North Mississippi, 12 Beach Rd, Grenada, MS  38901; or Margaret Grafton Gore Scholarship Fund at Mississippi University for Women.