William Merle "Coach" Gore

Funeral services for William Merle “Coach” Gore will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport, Louisiana. Officiating will be Reverend Harrell Shelton, Associate Pastor at Airline Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Forest Park Cemetery, St. Vincent Avenue. Visitation at Rose-Neath Marshall Street will be held before the services on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

Coach Gore was born on January 24, 1940, to Sam and Inez Gore in Bradley, Arkansas, and was called home by his Lord and Savior on Sunday, June 26, 2022. He was the youngest of four siblings and loved sharing stories of growing up with Sissie, Buggy, and Travis in the home of their beloved mother.

After graduating from Southern Arkansas University, he began coaching at Plain Dealing High, but spent the majority of his 38-year career coaching basketball at Plain Dealing Academy and Trinity Heights Academy. Coach Gore’s teams were accomplished on the court, winning numerous girls and boys state championships throughout the years. He considered his players to be family and was extremely proud of everything they accomplished on the court and later in their lives.

Coach Gore was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Earnest “Buggy” Gore and his wife, Frances; and his sister-in-law, Mickie Gore. He is survived by his sister, Sissie Johnson and her husband, Leo; brother Travis Gore; in addition to numerous nieces and nephews who he loved very much. 

He was also survived by his wife of 35 years, Carol, who he loved referring to as his best friend; and his children, Jennifer Green and her husband, Brandon, Chris Morrison and his wife, Brandi, and Chase Gore and his wife, Kristen. However, the role he loved the most in life was being “Pops” to his grandchildren who were his true pride and joy: Alyson Green, Caleb Green, Ethan Morrison, Evan Morrison, Cannon Green, and Hank Gore.

Honoring Coach Gore as pallbearers will be Todd Gore, Blake Gore, Brady Gore, Steve Gore, Brandon Green, and Caleb Green.

The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to Dr. Scott McRight and nurse, Kristen, for guiding us through this journey, and those who so graciously attended to Coach Gore’s needs including LifePath Hospice, especially nurses, Diana and Kaitlyn, his caretakers, Tami, Leah, and Kadezia, and the loving staff at Garden Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center who made our stay there so comfortable.

The family suggests memorials may be made to the North Shreveport Lion’s Club, 1434 Hawn Ave., Suite 3, Shreveport, LA 71107 or click here to donate.

For the family and friends who cannot be with us, we invite you to join ZOOM live stream on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. CDT. Click HERE.