Melanie Dawn Gore

Funeral services for Melanie Gore will be held 11:00 AM, Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at Riser Funeral Home in Columbia, Louisiana, with Bro. Shane Duke officiating. Interment will follow in Hatten Cemetery under the direction of Riser Funeral Home.

Melanie Dawn Gore, was born September 17, 1967, and passed away on August 12, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Melanie was a cowgirl through and through. She had a deep love for animals and the western way of life. She especially enjoyed raising horses, longhorn cattle, and cur dogs. One of her greatest passions was training barrel horses. Horses were never just a hobby to Melanie, they were a huge part of who she was.

Those who knew Melanie will remember her for her toughness, her love for animals, her passion for horses, and the unmistakable fire she carried with her everywhere she went.

Just four months ago, she made what would become her final barrel run on her granddaughter’s horse, Leanne. She finished that last run the way every cowgirl dreams of with a 1st place win. She was a graduate of Sisbee High School and attended Lamar University in Beaumont Texas.

Melanie was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Kyle Gore; and her granddaughter, Bella Hatten. Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Shyann Winstead (Dustin); sister, Kimberly Gore; brother, Marshall Gore, Jr. (Pam); her beloved granddaughter, Brynlee Winstead; and her many, many animals.

Pallbearers include Nick Rushing, Doc Skelton, Andy Cole, Rudy Guerrero, and Jerry Bailey.