Orville J. "Sonny" Spore Jr. passed away on Monday, August 31, 2015 at the age of 78 years. Sonny was born in Memphis on February 24, 1937 to Orville J. Spore Sr. and Margaret Johnson Spore. He attended Guthrie School and graduated from Humes High School in 1955. While attending Humes, he was a gifted multi-sport athlete who excelled in basketball, football and track. Following high school, he attended the University of the South at Sewanee where he was the first student to ever letter in football, basketball and track as a freshman. On December 21, 1956 he married his high school sweetheart, Peggy Joyce Parks. He worked for Memphis Light Gas & Water for 28 years in electrical distribution as a lineman, foreman and supervisor. Following his retirement, he worked with his wife in the family business, State Beauty Supply-North until 2006. Sonny and Peggy loved to travel with family and friends and would often be found at sea aboard cruise ships or vacationing with family on the Florida Gulf Coast. Sonny was a Christian and lifelong member at Decatur Trinity Christian Church in Bartlett where he served as a deacon for several terms. In his early adult life, he excelled in Memphis Park Commission softball and basketball and is a member of the Memphis Park Commission Sports Hall of Fame. He loved Ole Miss Football, St. Louis Cardinal Baseball and virtually any activity in which his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren participated. He is survived by Peggy Joyce Spore, his wife of 59 years ; one son, Jerry Paul Spore of Jackson, Tennessee, a daughter, Janet Kay Guldan (Peter) of Memphis, a sister, Carolyn Kay Armstrong (Milton) of Bartlett, Tennessee; five grandchildren, Sarah Nicole Deline (Harley) of Medina , Tennessee, Courtney Claire Cook (Bo) of Gallatin, Tennessee, Bethany Kay Spore of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Christian Jeffrey Spore of Gallatin, Tennessee and Alexander Paul Spore of Gallatin, Tennessee; four great grandchildren, Patrick Conner Simpson of Medina, Tennessee, Clayton Paul Simpson of Medina, Tennessee, Glorianne Deline of Medina, Tennessee, Hayden Joyce Cook of Gallatin, Tennessee and Eden Elizabeth Deline due in October. Please join Sonny''s family and friends at Forest Hill Funeral Home on Kirby Whitten Road from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, September 3, 2015 for visitation with the funeral to commence at 10:30 am on Friday, September 4, 2015 at Decatur Trinity Christian Church at 2449 Altruria Road in Bartlett. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Decatur Trinity Christian Church.

Forest Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park, East
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