Dr. Gene Kouri

1936 - 2022

Dr. Gene Kouri
January 5, 1936 - December 30, 2022
Corpus Christi , Texas - Eugene M. "Gene" Kouri passed away Friday, December 30, 2022, at Corpus Christi Medical Center Doctors Regional Hospital of complications from Parkinson's disease, 6 days before his 87th birthday. Gene loved football – the Dallas Cowboys in particular. As a season ticket holder for over 40 years, he enjoyed taking friends and family to the games and would impress fans by reciting the most obscure statistics from past seasons. We'd like to think he chose to leave us on a high note with a Cowboys' winning season. Gene was born on January 5, 1936, in Blair, Oklahoma, and at a young age moved to Sweetwater, Texas, with his beloved parents, Salem and Fadwa Kouri, and his sisters Dee and Linda. Gene graduated in 1957 with a BS Degree in biology from Baylor University. He continued his studies at Baylor College of Dentistry, achieving a DDS degree in 1961, and subsequently received his specialty in pediatric Dentistry, an MSD. After college, Gene was a Medical-Dental draftee in the Army, stationed in Augusta, Georgia, and received an honorable discharge after serving for 2 years. Upon completing a two-year fellowship in pediatric dentistry at Children's Medical Center in Dallas, Gene established his practice in Fort Worth where he enthusiastically provided care to his patients for almost 60 years as a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist. Gene was particularly humbled by his staff appointment at Cook's Children's Hospital, a position he held for over 50 years. Gene loved working with children and was a strong believer in the power of a healthy smile – the universal symbol of kindness – and its positive effect on a child's self-esteem. As an avid golfer, Gene enjoyed pairing his love of the game with travel to some of the world's greatest courses from California to Scotland. Yet, Gene never felt more at home than on the greens of Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth. Gene also enjoyed hunting and fishing from an early age. He enjoyed trips to his second home in Rockport, Texas, for fishing, relaxation, and the world's best seafood. You could say Gene never met an oyster he didn't like. While Gene enjoyed dining at some of the finest restaurants, nothing could top a home-cooked Lebanese meal or a good chicken fried steak. Gene is preceded in death by his mother and father and is survived by his wife of 36 years, Moselle Kouri, daughters Karen Felps (James) and Kelly Myers (Dick), sisters Dee Holmes (Tommy) and Linda Morris (George), stepsons Ross Staffel (Tana), Scott Staffel (Barb Klein), and Joe Staffel, granddaughters Emily Johnston (Chris) and Arden Beyer (Jonathan), step-grandchildren, Mixson, Sarah, Ben, Julia, and Edward Staffel - all who affectionately referred to him as their "Giddo" – great- granddaughter Blakely Beyer, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. The family wishes to thank all of Gene's caregivers, especially Molly McConville and Maria Burgess from Visiting Angels of Rockport and Corpus Christi, Texas. There will be a Celebration of Life for Gene at Greenwood Chapel in Fort Worth, Texas on January 16 at 2:30 pm, where Gene will be laid to rest beside his mother and father. The family wishes that all donations be made to Cooks Children's Hospital online, https://giving.cookchildrens.org/AnnualGiving.aspx, in memory of Dr Gene Kouri.