George Anthony Koury

Published 12:22 am Thursday, December 3, 2015

August 1, 1929 -October 14th, 2015

George was born in Shreveport, LA and raised by his mother, Isabelle Koury and sister, Louise Koury Alley. George graduated Byrd High School and went on to spend a year at LSU where he was on the cheerleading team. At age 19 with only $20.00 in his pocket he hitched a ride with a favorite uncle to head out west and pursue new adventures in Los Angeles, Calif. He dabbled in the theater going by the stage name “Dwayne Koury” but enlisted in the Army when duty called. After his service George returned to Los Angeles working at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft where he met, courted and fell in love with a young, beautiful and vivacious woman, Thama McCormick. After 3 months of dating he proposed and they were married 5 months after their first date. George was 24 and Thama was just 19 years old.  They bought a home in Long Beach, CA and quickly filled it with 7 children in just 10 years: Michael, Paul, Gaye (Scott Blyth), Christopher, Patrick, Ceanne (Seymour), and Michelle. George has 5 grandchildren, Ian and Shawn Blyth, Alexandra Seymour, Travis and Taylor Koury and 1 great grandchild, Trenton Koury.

George was a natural born salesman and began his career selling high quality stainless steel cookware door to door comfortably supporting his rapidly growing family due to his likable personality, extensive product knowledge and persuasive skills. George was so successful in the “pots and pans” business that he was wooed to sell luxurious Lincoln Continental automobiles in 1963 at Murphy Lincoln Mercury in Long Beach, CA. In just 3 years he was awarded the very prestigious title of Lincoln Continental Salesman of the Nation in 1966 for his exemplary sales record as the number one salesman and providing the highest customer satisfaction within the Lincoln Continental organization. George was quickly promoted to Vice President, General Manager of Murphy Leasing Company and after 14 successful years building the business he decided to remove the “golden handcuffs”. In 1977 he opened a family auto leasing and sales business with his wife, Thama and daughter, Gaye naming it “George Koury Leasing”. His eldest son, Michael joined the business and took it over when George retired and moved to Bend, OR in 1997.

George thoroughly enjoyed cars, trucks and motorcycles and eventually fell in love with flying. He earned his private pilots license in the early 1970’s and proudly acquired his much cared for Cessna 182 which he flew regularly between Southern California and Oregon until he felt it was time to “hang up his wings” when he reached his mid 70’s. 

George and Thama were very active and involved members of Bend Country Club enjoying both their love of golf and social interaction. The many wonderful members at Bend Country Club brought joy along with tremendous and cherished friendships to both George and Thama over the last 20 years. 

In the last 10 years, George renewed his passion for magic. As a very young boy he called himself “Presto the Wonder Boy” and absorbed all he could through books about magic and the great magicians of that era. He would spend countless hours learning and practicing literally hundreds of different card and magic tricks many of which would completely amaze, baffle and shock those that witnessed them.  Nearly everyone he met would likely be treated to a card trick as George never left the house without a deck or two of cards in his pockets. Magic combined many of George’s talents like the gift of story telling, theatrics and loving to entertain people. He spent time at the hospital doing magic for chemo patients and ill children to help break up the hours of treatment and bring some joy to their day.  He would do card tricks for patrons and employees at restaurants, retail stores, banks and Bend Country Club or anywhere he could muster an audience. He became known as “George the Magic Man” and was admired by so many folks throughout the city of Bend.

George passed peacefully after a catastrophic stroke on October 14th 2015 lovingly surrounded by his beloved and devoted wife of 62 years and all 7 of his children. The family would like to offer their sincere and heartfelt thanks to the amazing, kind and attentive ICU Nurses and staff of St Charles and especially to chaplain, Kit Hall who offered warm support, compassion and the kindest of words and prayers to help our family deal with our sudden loss.