George Khoury

George was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Sue (Shanks) Khoury; father and mother, Khalil and Nour Khoury; sisters, Samira Khoury and Soulafa Talhami.
He is survived by his wife, Rose Barton Khoury; children, Stacey (Rick Barnes) Khoury and George (April) Khoury, Jr.; sister, Nuhad Khoury; brothers, David Khoury and Stan (Irene) Khury; and granddaughter, Khalyla Khoury.
With a lifetime as an artist, a craftsman and a businessman, George Khoury lived a vibrant life full of loving family and friends.
A fine artist, George's original works of art demonstrated creative expression and technical proficiency. From "Lady in Red" to "Fishing Boats on the Greek Isles" to "Still Life With Cherries," he displayed his skills in fine art portraits, landscapes and still life all with emotional meaning. George commissioned works in private collections throughout Japan, Greece, the Middle East and the United States.
An Artist Always
Born in Nazareth, Palestine, in 1939, George was always interested in art, carving small animals from soap as a child, much to his mother's chagrin. At age 16, he studied under Syrian artist Michel Kurshee, a protege of Matisse. During the interim, he also worked with his uncles in their jewelry business and studied under renowned jeweler Jibran Khatini in Damascus, earning his Master Jeweler designation at the age of 19. He apprenticed with fine arts sculptor Sadek Kassis, then studied in Europe.
A Master Jeweler
Bringing with him the wooden box easel, which he had carted into the fields as a youth, George immigrated to New York in 1962. While at an art show in New York, a gentleman commented on George's handsome ring. George proceeded to tell him that he had done the hand engraving himself. The gentlemen, from the art show, had connections in the city, and soon George began working with jewelers in New York. A Palestinian refugee immigrant, George had quickly found his footing and had begun a career in the fine jewelry business.
After that time, George relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, to be closer to family, who had also emigrated. George attended Peabody College, today a part of Vanderbilt University, and worked with the Peabody Art Department.
He continued his jewelry career by working in the jewelry manufacturing business. At the age of 29, he bought the business, Morris and Company, located in downtown Nashville and surrounding cities, and started focusing on the retail side of jewelry. George later opened his flagship store, Khoury Jewelers, in Green Hills. Throughout the years, he made custom pieces for many talents in the music industry. He handcrafted a fabulous flower blossom brooch with moving petals. This magnificent brooch was donated to Cheekwood Estate and Gardens for fundraising at the annual Swan Ball.
He continued as the premier jeweler in the Green Hills area for over forty years. He was well known and respected in the Nashville community for his sterling reputation as a Master Jeweler, few could equal his talent.
During these years, he ran a successful business, married and raised a family. Even after spending a full day in the jewelry store, George followed his passion and painted long into the night. Retirement brought him even more time for his beloved painting.
A Zest for Life and A Pursuit of Passions
In 1996, George received the People's Choice Award from the Portrait Society of America. He also taught painting at the Tennessee Art League and the Cheekwood Mansion. He was a member of the Tennessee Art League and the Chestnut Group, plein air painters for the land.
George is best known for his vivid, pre-eminent collection of portraits and still life paintings, reminiscent of the Old-World Masters. He viewed life via a multicultural prism, with a keen eye for detail with a romantic twist. His landscapes took you into the scene, such as a delicate cliff landscape in Maaloula, a Biblical town in Syria, which he viewed from a monastery. Or a favorite of his, the tantalizingly soft, hazy desert pastel, evoking the sweet memories of a Serengeti, a war-free Middle East of the 1950's. In his Greek landscapes, you almost feel the sun and smell the scent of the Mediterranean Sea on the Island of Paros in his fresh, bold view of harbor and architecture.
During retirement years, George flourished locally in the fine arts, traveling and pursuing his passion for cooking with his wife, Rose. He especially enjoyed cooking for his many friends and bringing delicious dishes to social gatherings for all to sample.
Art and painting were always his lifelong passion. The lure of paint never wavered and he carried the wooden box easel of his youth all his life. George was a distinguished example of integrity, honesty, and kindness. He always shared his talents freely with other artists and was a legend in so many ways a mentor generous with his knowledge. George Khoury was a true Renaissance man, who was loved by all who knew him.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 9th, 2024 at Church of the Redeemer,
920 Caldwell Lane, Nashville, Tennessee 37204. Visitation will begin at 10:00am followed by the service at 11:30am. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Saint Jude Hospital.