Barbara A Gore

PORTLAND - Barbara A. Gore, 85, passed away on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 surrounded by her loving family. Barbara was born on December 21, 1932 to the late Fabian S. and Angie Johnson Roma and grew up in the Libbytown neighborhood of Portland where she attended St. Patrick's School. She graduated from Cathedral High School and in 1955 married the love of her life, William F. Gore. Together, while William served in the U.S.A.F., they raised six children and lived on many military bases from London, England to Bangor, ME. In 1968, after 21 years of service, they retired back to Portland, Maine, where William pursued a law degree at the University of Maine Law School. With six young kids at home, Barbara was the glue that held the family together and controlled the chaos at 52 Edwards St., while William completed his studies and earned his law degree. Whoever coined the phrase "Behind Every Successful Man is a Strong Woman" must have had Barbara Gore in mind. Despite a lifelong vision impairment that left her legally blind, she was a voracious reader through the Talking Books for the Blind program. This program allowed her to read thousands of books in her lifetime and her interests spanned many genres. Barbara was dedicated to her family and taught us all the true meaning of unconditional love. She was a devout Catholic who lived a full life of faith and instilled in all her children a strong sense of compassion for others, especially those less fortunate. She inspired us to be all we could be and was always our biggest cheerleader. And she was always there when we needed advice or had something to discuss. Barbara was predeceased by her parents, Fabian and Angie Roma, her loving husband, William F. Gore, her brother Thomas and sister in law, Marie Roma, Sister in law, Sister Thomasmari Gore, and brother in law, Albert Paul Gore. She is survived by her sister Judy and brother in law Don Whitten of Concord, NH, her brother Tim and sister in law Mary Ellen Roma of Portland, her children and their families, Paul and Colleen Gore of Gorham, ME, Jim and Laurel Weissman Gore of Eugene, OR, Lisa and Lee Bals of Portland, ME, Dan and Margret Gore of Cape Elizabeth, ME, Cathy Gore and Tracy Hill of Portland, ME and John and Renee Gore of Windham, ME. Grandchildren, Kevin Gore and spouse Katie Yerxa Gore, of Westbrook, ME, Erin M. Dunn and spouse Scott Dunn of Buxton, ME, Balen Gore and spouse Annie Daher of San Francisco, CA, Kyla Stein and spouse Charlie Stein of Los Angeles, CA., Electra Bals of Portland, ME, Max Gore of Atlanta, GA, Stephen Gore of Boston, MA, Amy Grant and spouse Matt Grant of Windham, ME, Ashley Gore and Mariah Gore of Windham. Great grandchildren, Bridget and Brooke Dunn of Buxton, ME and Yossi and Reva Stein of Los Angeles, CA. and many nieces, nephews and cousins especially her cousin David Francis of Portland. Visiting hours celebrating Barbara's life will be held on Friday, April 27, 2018 from 4-7 PM at the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 11:30AM at St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Ave., Portland. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Broadway, South Portland.