Jimmy Kouri was called to Heaven on April 5, 2012. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 10, 2012, at Lunn’s Colonial Chapel with Father Christopher Constantinides, officiating. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery under the direction of Lunn’s Colonial Funeral Home. The family will be at the funeral home Monday evening from 7 to 8 p.m. for visitation.

Jimmy was born July 13, 1928, in Oklahoma City, Okla., to parents Musallum (Sam S.) and Najeeba Kouri, he attended Hawthorne Elementary and Taft Junior High schools. The family moved to Wichita Falls, Texas, on Dec. 1, 1941, and Jimmy graduated from Wichita Falls High School.

Partnering with his father and brothers, they opened Kouri’s Super Market at 1800 Hayes Street and successfully operated the business for 61 years. The family was the recipients of many awards for honesty and integrity in business and became well known not only in their hometown, but across the nation for fine foods and great service. Jimmy retired from the business in 2000 due to failing health.

In 1950, he was inducted into the army during the Korean War. During his two years of service, he rose to the rank of Sergeant. From April to November of 1952, he served as Military Police while serving at Fort Hood. Transferred to Ogden, Utah, he was part of the atomic bomb testings at Camp Desert Rock, Nevada, where he witnessed, in close proximity, two atomic bomb explosions. He was also Quarter Master from December 1950 to April 1952.

In January 1955, he married Thelma (Tiny) Andrews from Oklahoma City and they had 55 wonderful years together.

Jimmy was a DeMolay Dad for 6 years and was given the Chevalier Medal for outstanding work with young men in his DeMolay chapter.

He served as Exalted Ruler of Elk’s Lodge #1105 for three terms and was District Deputy for one year. Jimmy was honored with a lifetime membership for services to his lodge.

Jimmy was a member of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church and served as church board president for three years.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Thelma Kouri; his parents and brother, Sammie Kouri.

He is survived by three sons and daughter-in-law, Mike and Teri Kouri of Burleson, Texas, Tony Kouri of Wichita Falls, Texas, and Chip Kouri of Dallas, Texas; sister, Virginia Horany of Lakeside City, Texas; and brother, Samuel Kouri of Wichita Falls, Texas; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and many friends.

Pallbearers will be his nephews, David Andrews, Don Andrews, Dan Horany, Jim Horany, Tim Sullivan and grandson, George Ohmstede.

Honorary Pallbearers are Robbie Kouri and Ricky Kouri Those that knew Jimmy will always remember him as a kind, spirited man.

A hard-worker who was always quick with a joke. A man who always put his family first and was always willing to help out his fellow man.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, 3804 Seymour Road, Wichita Falls, Texas, 76309.   http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2012/apr/08/jimmy-m-kouri/

Wichita Falls Times Record News (TX) - Sunday, January 30, 2005

Kouri 50th

Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Kouri celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday with a reception at the Holiday Inn. Hosts were their sons and daughter-in-law, Anthony Kouri , Jimmy "Chip" Kouri and Michael and Bailey Kouri .

Kouri , a native of Wichita Falls, and Thelma "Tiny" Andrews of Oklahoma City were married Jan. 30, 1955, in her hometown.

Kouri retired in 2000 after 61 years as the owner of Kouri 's Super Market. He is a past president of the board of Holy Cross Orthodox Church, a former exalted ruler of BPO Elks Lodge 1105, and served as Demolay Chapter "dad" for eight years.

Mrs. Kouri is a homemaker. She is a Red Cross Gray Lady, a board member for the mental health association and church treasurer.

The couple are members of HCOC. They have five grandchildren.

Thelma J. "Tiny" Kouri was born on November 10, 1931, to parents E.H. and Nabeeha Andrews in Oklahoma City, Okla., where she also spent her childhood. Upon graduating from Central High School in 1949, she became employed as a Statistical Typist with a CPA firm, where she worked until marriage. On January 30, 1955, she married Jimmy Kouri and moved with her new husband to Wichita Falls, Texas. There, she became very active in her new hometown, volunteering as a Gray Lady with the Red Cross at Sheppard Air Force Base for many years. In later years, she also served on the Board of Directors for the Mental Health Mental Retardation Center in Wichita Falls.

Mrs. Kouri was a member of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church where she was also very active as a member of the Ladies Guild and served as church treasurer for many years. League bowling was a favorite hobby of hers, which she did for many years, until an injury sidelined her. She passed away on August 17, 2010, after complications from liver surgery.

She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Jimmy Kouri of Wichita Falls, Texas; three sons, Mike and Teri Kouri of Burleson, Texas, Tony and Ann Kouri of Wichita Falls, Texas, and Chip Kouri of Dallas, Texas; sister, Darlene and O.W. Johnson and brother, Joe and Jill Andrews, both of Oklahoma City; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 21, 2010, at Lunn's Colonial Chapel with Father Christopher Constantinides officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery under the direction of Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home. Serving as pallbearers will be her nephews; Robbie Kouri , Jim Horany, Dan Horany, Don Andrews, David Andrews and George Ohmstede. Honorary pallbearers are Ricky Kouri , Jeff Johnson and Tim Sullivan.

The family will be at the funeral home Friday evening 7 to 8 p.m. for visitation.

Those that knew Thelma knew that she was quick-witted, intelligent, a wonderful cook, loved to laugh, was passionate about basketball, and loved to surround herself with family, which was most important to her and always came first.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, 3804 Seymour Road, Wichita Falls, Texas, 76309.

Tributes may be sent to the family at www.lunnscolonial.com.

Burial: Riverside Cemetery; Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas, USA