Mary Batty Gore

Mary Batty Gore, 80 years old of Macon, passed away peacefully December 16, 2011 after a short illness. Mary was preceded in death by her parents Edward Ernest and Louella Hammer Batty of Kansas City, Kansas and her two husbands, J. William Gore and F. William Van Wormer. She was born in Kansas City, Kansas, June 29, 1931 and graduated with honors from Wyandotte High School in 1949. She attended Kansas State University for 2 ½ years studying nursing and completed her Registered Nursing degree at Columbia Basin College in Pascoe, Washington after being married and having three children. She was an exceptional, caring, and loving nurse for 42 years, retiring at the age of 79. Her last 25 years of active nursing was at Redmond Regional Hospital in Rome, Ga. Mary loved the outdoors and was very adventurous. She fished the lakes and rivers of Alaska for salmon, and the Florida Keys for grouper. She also was an avid scuba diver. She hiked 650 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Her loving daughter, Elizabeth, hiked 250 miles with her. She loved gardening and was on the alter guild of the different Episcopal Churches she attended. Her other hobbies were needle point and playing the harmonica. Her favorite song was West Virginia Country Roads. Mary loved her nursing career at Redmond Regional Hospital in Rome, Georgia and wanted to thank all of her pre-op nursing staff for all their love and support. She is survived by her children, Dr. Mark (Lori) Van Wormer, Clayton, New Mexico, Captain James (Genia) Van Wormer, Snoqualmie, Washington, Elizabeth (Dr. Thomas) Jones, Macon, Georgia; several grandchildren; a great granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends at the home of Elizabeth Mary Jones (Dr. Tom Jones), 387 Alexandria Dr. Macon, Georgia on Monday, December 19, 2011 from 5:00PM to 7:00PM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Animal Rescue Mission of your choice. There will be a memorial service for Mary B. Gore at Saint Peters Episcopal Church in Rome, Georgia in January 2012. Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary and Crematory at the Cupola has charge of arrangements.