Horace Gayton, 74, of Dawsonville, died May 15, 2012.

Born Jan. 4, 1938, to the late Beecher and Aline Gayton, he lived most of his life in Dawson County.

Mr. Gayton retired from General Motors after 22 years of service.

He was also employed by Dawson County for 10 years.

Horace was a U.S. Navy veteran and a member of Crossroads Baptist Church.

A sister, Lucille Browder; and a brother, Tommy Gayton, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Shirley Gayton of Dawsonville; daughters and sons-in-law, Debbie Smith, Jannie and Lance Brown, Rita and Carey Chappell, all of Dawsonville, Lynn and Eddie Firth of Seale, Ala.; sisters, Clara Anthony of Comer, Sandra Young of Dawsonville; brother and sister-in-law, Carrigan and Rita Gayton of Dawsonville; grandchildren, Kristi and David Bearden, Brandon and Hillary Mullinax, Katie Ingram, Amy Fields, Joseph Fields, Heather and Jared Polman, Beth and Paul Barron; great-grandchildren, Devin Bearden, Sawyer Bearden, Ava Polman, Hudson Barron and Lee Hand; various other relatives also survive.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. May 18 at the Bearden Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Brody Hughes and Gerald Blackburn officiating. Interment followed in the Crossroads Baptist Church Cemetery.

Bearden Funeral Home of Dawsonville is in charge of the arrangements.