James Ellis
Aboussie was born June 13, 1913 in Oklahoma City to
Ellis Michael and Massuda Massad Aboussie.
Jimmy passed
away at the age of 88 on February 6, 2002. Jimmy is
preceded in death by his mother and father, his
brother Sam Aboussie, his sister Fedwa Aboussie
Kouri , his brother-in-law Salem Kouri , and his
sister-in-law Emily Aboussie. Jimmy is survived by
his wife of 62 years Josephine Tayar Aboussie, his
daughters Janet Rosell, Donna Aboussie, Barbara
Essaili, his son-in-law Dr. Kenneth Edward Aboussie,
his son-in-law Abraham Essaili, his grand children:
Janet Ann Rosell, Armando James Rosell, Andrew Jose
Rosell, Leah Aboussie Gaither, Kenneth Edward
Aboussie, Jr., James Joseph Aboussie, Amanda Jo
Essaili, Yousef Abraham Essaili, and Hassan Jamil
Essaili.
He is also
survived by many in-laws, nieces, nephews, and
friends from all over the world. After graduating
from Blair High School, Jimmy worked with his
parents and brother at The Leader, the family owned
department store in Blair, Oklahoma, later moving
the store and the family home to Altus, Oklahoma.
Jimmy and
Josephine opened Janet's Smart Apparel for Women, in
1953. He and Josephine retired in 1989 after 51
years in the retail business. Jimmy, known as one of
the best-dressed men in Altus, devoted much of his
time to civic and charitable activities. He was a
member the United Methodist Church of Altus, a
charter member of the Altus Lions Club, a 32nd
degree mason in the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
Organization, a long-time Christmas bell ringer and
board member of the Salvation Army, a member of the
Altus Military Affairs Committee, and President of
the Dads' Club of Kappa Kappa Gamma at Oklahoma
State University. Jimmy's proudest possession was
his wife and family. He insisted on the best for his
daughters and put all three through Oklahoma State
University. This dedication to education continued
with his grandchildren. Jimmy was involved with his
grandchildren on a daily basis and attended every
important event in their lives. This devotion is
Jimmy's greatest legacy. He is a benchmark of
fatherhood. This devotion was accompanied by a
tremendous amount of patience and love. Jimmy was a
source of great strength and pride for his family.
He was an excellent storyteller and always had an
appropriate story for any occasion. Jimmy was also
an avid golfer and taught the game to his grandsons.
He scored a hole in one on the second hole of his
home course, the Elks Country Club in Altus,
Oklahoma. Jimmy is the greatest influence in the
lives of his daughters and grandchildren and is the
consummate example of dedication to the Lord,
dedication to family, hard work and success in
business, and dedication to civic duty.
He will be
missed and continually loved by his family as they
strive to carry on his legacy. Special thanks to his
many doctors, including Chris Sholar, Richard Lane
and Scott Samara, who tried to prolong his life and
believed in his spirit and dedication to live.
Jimmy's family would also like to thank the
Metropolitan Dialysis Center and the Altus Dialysis
Center for their patience and kindness.
Services will
be held on Saturday, February 9, 2002 at 2 o'clock
p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Altus,
Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers please make donations
to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and the
United Methodist Church of Altus. Burial will be at
Crestview Memorial Cemetery in Wichita Falls, Texas.
Burial:
Crestview Memorial Park
Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas
source of stone image
Oklahoman Archives
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
June 02, 2010; Section: Metro & State, Page:
19Norman
Josephine Tayar Aboussie, 93, was born to Frank F.
and Emily (Massad) Tayar on September 9, 1916 in
Wirt, Oklahoma. She passed from this life and went
home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on
May 30, 2010. A few years before her birth,
Josephine’s mother and father came to the United
States from Lebanon in search for a better life and
settled in Oklahoma. After a fire that destroyed all
of their belongings, the Tayar family moved to
Healdton, Oklahoma in 1917, where the family still
maintains their homestead. Josephine graduated from
Healdton High School with a perfect attendance
record and served as the Salutatorian for the Class
of 1934. After graduation she worked in the family
general store. On May 7, 1939, she married James
Ellis Aboussie of Blair, Oklahoma. They were married
in her parents' home in Healdton by the Methodist
minister. James and Josephine owned The Leader, a
department store in Altus, Oklahoma. In 1953, Jimmy
and Josephine opened Janet's Smart Apparel for
Women, a ladies dress shop. They retired in 1989
after 51 years in the retail business. Josephine and
Jimmy were married more than 62 years until Jimmy’s
death in 2002. Josephine was an active member of the
First United Methodist Church of Altus, Oklahoma;
United Methodist Women’s Organization and President
of the Mother’s Club of Kappa Kappa Gamma at
Oklahoma State University when her three daughters
attended. She is preceded in death by her parents;
husband Jimmy; brothers Joe Tayar and Ernie Tayar;
sisters Zeek Tayar, Edith Tayar Beal, Marjory Tayar
Saied and Marguerite Tayar. Josephine is survived by
her three daughters Janet Rosell of Oklahoma City,
Donna Aboussie and husband Kenneth of Wichita Falls,
Texas and Barbara Essaili and husband Abraham of
Oklahoma City. Josephine was also the proud
grandmother of nine grandchildren Janet Rosell Rice
of Dallas, Texas, Armando J. Rosell of Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma, Andrew J. Rosell of Fort Worth,
Texas, Leah Aboussie Gaither of Dallas, Texas,
Kenneth E. Aboussie, Jr. of Austin, Texas, James J.
Aboussie of Wichita Falls, Texas, Amanda Jo Essaili
of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Yousef A. Essaili of
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Hassan J. Essaili of
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Additionally, Josephine was
the proud great-grandmother of eleven
great-grandchildren; brothers Fred Tayar of Ardmore,
Oklahoma and Tenel J. Tayar of The Woodlands, Texas,
and many nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be her
nine grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations
can be made to the First United Methodist Church of
Altus, Oklahoma. The family would like to thank
Carla McPherson and Diandra Austin who cared for
Josephine over the past nine months. Family will
receive friends from 5:30 - 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday,
June 2, 2010, at Lunn’s Funeral Home in Wichita
Falls, Texas. Funeral services for Josephine Tayar
Aboussie will be Thursday, June 3, 2010, 11:00 A.M.,
at the First United Methodist Church in Wichita
Falls, Texas.
