Kostantinos Spyro "Gus" Mavraganis

1931 - 2024

Kostantinos "Gus" Spyro Mavraganis passed away peacefully in his home August 3, 2024. He was born August 2, 1931 in Elatou Nafpaktos Greece. Gus arrived in New York, NY on March 22,1951 and initially lived in Little Rock, AR. Eventually he moved to Memphis, TN and married Helen Chrisafis. They had 60 wonderful years together.

Gus served as a Specialist in the US Army for four years. He was patriotic and honored to be an American, proudly displaying his American flag in his front yard.

Gus never met a stranger and instantly became friends with everyone he encountered. He was an enterprising individual who enjoyed dabbling in various business ventures. He successfully ran the Dixie Meat Company where he supplied the highest quality meats to restaurants and hotels in the Memphis metro area for over 4 decades. He was affectionately known as The Meat Man up to his final days.

Committed to his faith, he was an active member of St. George and the Annunciation Greek Orthodox churches in Memphis. He enjoyed participating in Greek Festivals, often donating the meats and cooking them to perfection.

Gus was preceded in death by his loving wife, Helen, his parents Spyro and Parthena Mavraganis, sisters Paraskevi Vivian Karadimas and Panagiota Chrysanthopoulou, nephew Kallistheni Denny Chrysanthopoulos, and nieces Adrienne Paxenos Dendrinos and Katherine Nina Paxenos Psihogios.

He is survived by his sister Evanthia (Kosta) Panou and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, godchildren and cousins in the United States, Greece and Canada including Tina Psihogios Fogel, Jennie Psihogios Johnson, Stacy Dendrinos Rousonelos, Jennie Dendrinos Polson, Cynthia Dendrinos Ferri, Aspassia Panou Bouzinelou, Parthena Chrysanthopoulou, Spyros Chrysanthopoulos and Francis Williamson.

Heartfelt gratitude is given to wonderful friends and caregivers whose tireless dedication positively supported Gus's long quality of life: Carolyn Marion, Lorie Rose, Gail Brewer, Cecil Short, Anna Paris, Eva Paris and many others.

Pallbearers include Glenn Fogel, Andrew Fogel, Alex Johnson, Jim Polson, Stan Rousonelos and Cecil Short. Honorary pallbearers include Gus Dendrinos, Teddy Polson, Michael Ferri and Kosta Bouzinelos.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gus's honor to his favorite charity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, St Jude Memorial Fund: Gus Mavraganis - St. Jude’s Memorial Fund: Gus Mavraganis - St. Jude’s Memorial Funds (stjude.org)