John Wesley Gorsage, Sr.

John Wesley Gorsage

John Wesley Gorsage Sr. 74 of Lexington, SC passed away Friday September 8th, 2017 at Palmetto Health Richland Hospital. Born in Indianapolis, IN on March 26th, 1943, he was the son of the late Ruth Margaret Thomas Gorsage and Wesley Franklin Gorsage. He graduated from Ben Davis High school in 1961 and came to the University of South Carolina on an athletic scholarship and played basketball from 1961-1965. He graduated with a B.A. in English and married his college sweetheart, Etta Sue (Susie) Shockley of Greenville, SC in 1965. They celebrated 52 years of marriage on September 4th, 2017.

He worked at the State-Record Company in 1966. He served as copy editor, copy desk chief and night news editor until 1979. He served as Personnel Manager until 1984 and then served as Corporate Director of Human Resources and Insurance until 1988.  From 1988 through 1994 he served as Executive Director of the SC Service Station Dealers Association and Managing Director of the SC Mechanical Contractors Association.

In 1995 he was employed by M.B. Kahn Construction Inc. as Director of Human Resources and Safety and retired from M.B. Kahn in December of 2012.

John loved his USC Gamecocks, loved to swim, bike, paint and exercise. He also was an active member of Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church in Lexington, served as Sunday school teacher for the Wilbur Rogers and the Julia Rogers Sunday school classes, member of the Men’s Prayer Breakfast and served on the Administrative Board.

John devoted his life to his family and was a loving husband, father and papa. He was adored by his family and friends and will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife Susie, brother Warren Michael Gorsage (Lynne and son, Reed) of Kiawah Island, daughters, Kimberly Gorsage Summer (James) of Peak, Kelly Gorsage McGee of Lexington, son John Wesley Gorsage Jr. (Kim) of Lexington, grandchildren Nicholas and Caroline McGee, Georgia Summer, Claire and John Wesley Gorsage III, sisters-in-law, bothers-in-law, two aunts, an uncle and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation is Thursday, September 14th at 2:00 PM with Funeral service following, 3:00 PM at Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church, 1205 Old Cherokee Rd, Lexington SC, 29072. A grave side service following.

Memorials may be made to the Mt. Horeb UMC Above and Beyond Campaign in memory of John W Gorsage Sr.

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