Ellis Koury died Sunday, May 24, 2009, at River Region Medical Center. He was 93.

Born in Vicksburg, Mr. Koury was the son of the late Alexander Koury and Katherine Petrou Koury. He was in the first high school graduating class at Carr Central High School, Class of 1933.

Mr. Koury was a veteran of World War II, serving with the Army in the Pacific in New Guinea and other locations. For more than 50 years, he and his wife operated Koury’s Children’s Shop at 1216 Washington St. until they closed the store in 1997.

Mr. Koury was affectionately known as the “Mayor of Washington Street,” where he visited with the owners of many other family businesses and those shopping in downtown Vicksburg. He was a member of the Vicksburg Lions Club with 61 years of service and, for many years, served as chairman of the Sight Conservation Committee. He was a former longtime member and chairman of the Civil Service Commission.

Mr. Koury was a lifelong member of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, where he was a member of the St. George’s Men’s Club and served on the Church Board. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Sunday School Department of the church, where he taught for a number of years.

Mr. Koury is survived by his wife of 63 years, Frances Cox Koury; two daughters, Kate K. Knudsen of San Francisco, Calif., and Connie K. Hosemann and her husband, David, of Vicksburg; a son, Ellis Glenn Koury and his wife, Cynthia, of Dallas, Texas; five grandchildren, Dayna Keyes, John David Hosemann Jr., Justin Hosemann, Aaron Koury and Allison Koury; one great-granddaughter, Alexandra Koury; and two sisters, Pauline K. Nasif and Dolores K. Nosser,  both of Vicksburg.

He was preceded in death by a son, Michael Koury; two sons-in-law, Danny Keyes and Keith Knudsen; and a sister, Emma Lee K. Najour.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church with the Very Rev. John W. Morris, pastor, officiating, assisted by the Very Rev. David Ogan, attached clergy, and Father Paul Yerger, pastor of the Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Clinton. Burial will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 until 8 p.m. Thursday at Riles Funeral Home and Friday at the church from 10:30 a.m. until the hour of the service. Trisagion prayers will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be John David Hosemann Jr., Justin Hosemann, Aaron Koury, Dayna Keyes, Remy Massey, Albert Joseph Nosser Jr., Wayne Thornton and Ben Shaw.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mae Brown, Thelma Leist, Paul Banchetti, Mike Beard, Johnny Crocker, Jimmy Thompson, George Cronia, Charles A. Toney, Dr. Tom H. Mitchell, Joseph A. Gerache, Mayor Laurence Leyens, Gerald Hosemann, James L. Halford, Jack Kyle, Dr. George E. Abraham II, members of the Vicksburg Lions Club, the staff of the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library and members of the Main Street Association.

Memorials may be made to St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 2709 Washington St., Vicksburg MS 39180; Lions Sight Foundation of Mississippi, 431 Katherine Drive, Flowood, MS 39232; and to the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital, Division of Public Affairs, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39216.

Many lives have been touched and blessed by the friendships made in living 93 years. His sense of humor and passion for life as a son, brother, classmate, merchant, veteran, husband, father, jiddu and friend encompass a full life… even riding on the back of a motorcycle to his 90th birthday party.

Treasure these memories with us and consider yourself as an honorary pallbearer as you worship and share in his burial because he treasured your friendship.

May he continue to live on in memory and in His kingdom.