Surname Index
Updated: 08 Sep 2009

Daily Oklahoman, The 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 
May 23, 1999

Sam G. Kouri, age 81, of Oklahoma City, died May 21, 1999. He was born in Wewoka, Oklahoma, on October 5, 1917. He moved with his parents to the Oklahoma City area in 1935. He was a graduate from Bethany High School and served in WWII. Early in 1945 after his discharge, he entered the oil and gas brokerage business, and later became an Indian oil and gas specialist. For many years, he served his Lord as a singles minister in various Baptist churches.

On June 10, 1978, Sam married his wife, Velma, and together they worked with the singles at Nicoma Park Baptist Church for 18 years. Sam and Velma are currently members of Crestwood Baptist Church. Sam will be remembered as an entertainer with a Christian message, which he conveyed in his own style through his song leading and piano playing. He will also be remembered for his caring and compassionate nature, which he displayed to everyone he met.

He is survived by his wife, Velma of the home; 1 brother, Sid Kouri and wife, Carrie Lee of Oklahoma City; two sisters, Eva Solomon of Stillwater, OK and Eleanor Vandruff and husband, Jene of Westminster, CA. He is also survived by his step children, Anna Louise Johnson, Helen Ruth Ledbetter, Rocky Ray Polk and Charles Gordon Polk; 11 grandchildren, 1 great-grandson, and 7 nephews.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, May 24, 1999, at Northwest Baptist Church with interment to follow at Fairlawn Cemetery, Oklahoma City.

photo courtesy Teafor2.com July 2009.

Daily Oklahoman, The 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 
June 20, 2001

Velma Ethel Anderson Polk- Kouri , age 71, died June 17, 2001, in Oklahoma City. She was born on September 6, 1929, in Durant, OK. Velma moved to Oklahoma City in 1947. She worked as an abstractor and retired from Western Electric in 1982. She was also employed by Kerr-McGee. She was a member of the Crestwood Baptist Church.

Velma was preceded in death by her husband, Sam George Kouri in 1999. She is survived by her daughters, Anna Johnson of Bisbee, AZ, and Helen Ledbetter of Paris, TX; sons, Rocky Polk of Choctaw, OK, and Charles Polk of OKC; eleven grandchildren; 1 great grandson; sisters, Opal Gordon of Bokchito, OK, and Corene Emert of Klamoth Falls, OR, and Claudene Hardy of Marlow, OK; and a brother, Vernon Anderson of Bokchito, OK. Memorial gifts may be made to Crestwood Baptist Church, 2516 NW 16th, OKC, OK 73107.

Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, June 21, 2001, at the Crestwood Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Fairlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends and relatives from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Wednesday, June 20, at Smith & Kernke, 1401 NW 23rd St.

Sources:  good faith fair use of sources stated above

Compiled, transcribed and submitted by Marti Graham, Oklahoma County, OKGenWeb Coordinator, September 2009. Information posted for educational purposes for viewers and researchers. The contributor is not related to nor researching any of the above.

I believe in random acts of kindness and I believe in sharing genealogy. If you have copies of photos, obituaries, wills, biographies, or stories relating to any of these families or other Oklahoma County families, would you consider sending them my way for publication at this site?

I always welcome comments and corrections.

I live outside the Oklahoma City area, I cannot personally do any research for you. However I will try to direct you to someone who may help you if you can't find what you want here. Please understand ALL information on this site was contributed by people like you. If it's not on the site, I don't have it. Thanks