Virginia Kouri Horany
Beloved Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother, Virginia Kouri Horany died peacefully on March 16, at the age of 95.
Virginia is survived by her children, Katrina Hourani of Austin, Jim Horany, and wife Debbie of Lakeside City, Dan Horany of Irving, and Diane Horany Arnold, and husband Ron of Smithville. She also is survived by her nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and many Kouri and Horany nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Jimmy P. Horany of Lakeside City, her parents M’sallam (Sam) and Najeeba Kouri, her brothers, Sammie W. Kouri, Samuel J. Kouri, and Jimmy M. Kouri, all of Wichita Falls and Salem Kouri of Sweetwater.
Virginia was born on Sept. 28, 1925, in Oklahoma City, and moved to Wichita Falls, in 1942, where her family established, owned, and operated Kouri’s Super Market in Wichita Falls. She married Jimmy P. Horany on April 23, 1944, and eventually, they moved to Archer City.
She attended First Methodist Church in Archer City and Wichita Falls and was an active member of both church choirs, singing at many weddings, funerals, and special events. She was a unique wife and mother. While living in Archer City, she was a recognized leader and pillar of the community. She participated and served in the Delphian Club, Ladies Auxillary, Eastern Star, and President of the Band Boosters Club. Her life revolved around her family, and she was a loving and dedicated mother. She volunteered as room mother for each of her children from 1952-1972. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother and a Camp Fire leader for her children’s activities. She exhibited her unique skills and talents by creating and designing floats for competition at the Annual Archer City Rodeo Parade for more than a decade. She was highly interested in international and domestic politics and current world events. Her curiosity led her to become an avid reader and researcher on the internet to improve her self-development and education. She was a progressive thinker and ahead of her time.
Anyone who knew Virginia was honored to be a recipient of her outstanding Lebanese cuisine, which she had learned from her mother. The choir members of both churches were lovingly blessed with her Lebanese sweetbread every Easter Sunday. She published a cookbook of Lebanese and other favorite recipes for her family. She had a green thumb, and most of her cooking resulted from months of tilling, planting, and harvesting vegetables and fruits from her sizeable garden.
Under the direction of Lunn’s Funeral home, a graveside service was scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, March 19, at Riverside Cemetery in Wichita Falls. Virginia’s nephew, the Reverend Christopher Robinson of San Antonio, will officiate the service. All are welcome to attend the graveside service.
A viewing was held at Lunn Funeral Home of Wichita Falls on Thursday, March 18, from 5-7 p.m. The family may or may not be present. Instead of flowers, the family suggests donations made to the Hospice of Wichita Falls.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lunnscolonial.com.
