James Elroy Gore of Eagle River, AK
1936 – 2025
James Elroy Gore of Eagle River, Alaska passed away peacefully July 23, 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska with his family by his side. He was 88.
Born Sept. 18, 1936 in Tabor City, he was the son of the late Jessie James “Jim” Gore and Sally Ruth (Fipps) Gore.
Elroy was raised in Columbus County, in the Bethel Community, on a tobacco farm. He was a graduate of Williams Township High School, class of 1954. On the advice of his high school math teacher Olive B. Wright he joined the U.S. Army and became a Microwave Technician. Ms. Wright’s sage advice led Elroy on to a long and successful career.
Elroy served in the U.S. Army for three years. Using the G.I. Bill he graduated from DeVry Instiitute in Chicago, Illinois with a degree in communications. This led him to Alaska where he began his career with RCA which later became Alascom AT&T. He retired after 45 years of service as Executive Vice President.
He married the late Joann Beck of Columbus County in 1963. They were married 35 years when she passed from breast cancer in 1998. They had two children, Tanya Anne Gore (Durrett) and Jeremy James Gore who survive him.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Jimmy Milton Gore, and sister-in-law Daneen Gore.
He is also survived by his brother, Jesse Gore of Aberdeen; a sister, Betty Ruth Greene and brother-in-law E.W. Greene of Clarendon; sister-in-law Betty Faye Gore of Charleston; daughter-in-law Karen (wife of Jeremy) Gore of Eagle River, Alaska; and son-in-law Andy (husband of Tanya) Durrett of Anchorage, Alaska granddaughters Tia Gore of Eagle River, Alaska and Kassidy Gore of Alpharetta, Georgia; grandson Marcus Durrett (wife Jodi) of Anchorage; great grandsons Cobin and Tucker Durrett of Anchorage, Alaska; a cousin, Jackson Gore of Whiteville; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Elroy accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior as an adolescent attending Sweet Home Baptist Church in Clarendon. He was deeply devoted to his church First Baptist in Eagle River, Alaska serving as Deacon, Sunday School and Training Union teacher and many other positions.
We celebrate that Elroy is in his eternal heavenly home with the Lord God Almighty.
Funeral services were planned for 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, in the Inman Ward Funeral Home Chapel, burial following in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Tabor City.
Visitation was planned for the hour preceding services in the chapel.
Sign a guest register here.
