Faris "Jack" Kouri

Faris “Jack” Kouri asked little and gave much. He spoke with few words, yet with great fluency through the eloquence of his hard work and determination, zeal for life and loyalty, youthful spirit and honor, patriotism, bravery and integrity.

Jack was born in Chelsea, OK, on June 22, 1920, to Lebanese-emigrant parents, Philomena and Thomas Kouri. He was the fourth of seven children in this large, loving family where hard work was the way of life on their farm that produced crops plentiful enough to be sold for income, used to keep the family well-fed during the Depression years and shared with neighboring friends. When the Kouri boys could manage time away from school and working the farm, hunting, fishing and sports filled the days, with Jack becoming a skillful baseball player, marksman and fisherman.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Jack enlisted in the US Navy and was stationed for three years in the South Pacific on Espiritu Santo (the island of James Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific fame) and on the aircraft carrier USS Princeton at the time it came under enemy attack and was lost at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Upon returning to the States, he wasted no time in marrying his high-school sweetheart, Pauline Clark. After finishing out his naval duty in Seattle, they made the Tulsa area their home where Pauline worked for American Airlines and Jack established himself as a master carpenter creating woodworking magic in Tulsa homes and businesses.

For all of their 57-year marriage until Pauline passed away in 2001, they immersed themselves in satisfying work and loving family life with a devotion to caring for both their mothers every day. And when their only child, Jackie, came along, their joy took on new purpose. No child could be blessed with more adoring parents or more profound life lessons: unwavering commitment and unconditional love, helping others and giving back, strong work ethics and deeply-rooted values. And when Jackie’s husband, Gary, joined the family, Jack embraced him with the kind of love that he had been waiting to give the son he now had.

Jack was always an accomplished gardener, keeping everyone near and far supplied with vegetables, fruits and pecans. Fishing was a favorite pastime and bird hunting was his greatest outdoor passion, especially when shared with Gary and other family and using his own hunting dogs that he expertly trained. He relished travel, cooking, casinos, joke-telling, card games and time with his cherished family.

A simple man? Definitely, in the best sense of the word. No pretense, only purity. His sacrifice was both significant and quiet. His life was love expressed and honor demonstrated. He blessed us with his child-like joy, unbridled appreciation for life and, perhaps best of all, perfect peace and contentment through and through. We admired all that and were sometimes awed by it, so we tried to model ourselves after him. And he made us better people.

Jack taught us richly; not with loud words, but by his tranquil example of how to live a life immensely well. What a privilege it has been to love him. And oh what a blessing it would be if we absorb a fraction of his goodness. His spirit shines on.

Jack was preceded in death by: his wife of 57 years, Pauline; his parents Philomena and Thomas; his sisters Roshada and Helen; his brothers Anthony and Edward. He is survived by his daughter Jackie and her husband Gary of Tulsa; sister Mary Ann Holcomb of Tulsa; brother Charles Kouri of Valencia, CA; and a wealth of beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family expresses deep appreciation for the dedicated staffs of Montereau, St. Francis Hospital, St. Francis Hospice and Visiting Angels of Green Country. Particular gratitude is extended to Candace Bible, Jack’s long-time caregiver who provided such compassionate and loving care.

A rosary service will be held on Thursday, May 21, at 6:00 pm and funeral mass on Friday, May 22, at 1:00 pm, both at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Tulsa. A graveside service with military honors will take place at the Chelsea cemetery following the funeral mass.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Oklahoma Chapter at www.alz.org/oklahoma or 918.392.5000.