Horace Gayton, 74, of Dawsonville passed away Tuesday May 15, 2012 at Northside Forsyth Hospital following a period of declining health. Born January 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 after which he was employed by Dawson County for 10 years. Horace was a U. S. Navy veteran, a member of Crossroads Baptist Church and was also preceded in death by a sister, Lucille Browder, and brother, Tommy Gayton. Surviving are his wife of 57 years, Shirley Gayton, Dawsonville; daughters and sons in law, Debbie Smith, Dawsonville, Jannie and Lance Brown, Dawsonville, Lynn and Eddie Frith, Seale, AL, Rita and Carey Chappell, Dawsonville; sisters, Clara Anthony, Comer, Sandra Young, Dawsonville; brother and sister in law, Carrigan and Rita Gayton, 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. Funeral services will be held Friday May 18, 2012 at 2 o’clock at Bearden Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Brody Hughes and Rev. Gerald Blackburn will officiate. Interment will follow in the Crossroads Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 5 until 9 and Thursday from 3 until 9 at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed at www.beardenfuneralhome.com. Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville, GA.