Adeline Hamra

Adeline Homra Hamra was born 12/12/12, in itself a unique date suiting a unique lady, and passed away in her home surrounded by her family January 2, 2011 in Dallas after a brief two week illness. She passed on just hours after watching her Oklahoma Sooners win their bowl game. Her parents were Esbir and Adeeba Homra, Lebanese immigrants, who in 1890 had established a retail clothing business in Fulton, Kentucky where she and her five siblings were born. She attended Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky for three years until the time she accepted the proposal for marriage to T.A. Phillip Hamra of Oklahoma in 1933. They established a retail clothing business, first in Shidler Oklahoma, and then they moved to Lawton Oklahoma in 1941. Together they built a thriving retail and real-estate business. In addition to raising her two children she was a tireless worker in both her First Presbyterian Church and Lawton civic activities. She was involved in numerous church activities and served as president of the Presbyterian Women. She also served on the board of the P.T.A. and the Lawton Chamber of Commerce. She was chairperson of the Entre Nous study club and chairperson of the Lawton Garden Club for several terms. She sponsored both Campfire Girls and Boy Scout groups. She and her husband were permanent members of the Ft. Sill Military Affairs Committee from 1942 until 1989 where they hosted and entertained countless young Allied Officers and their families who were training in Ft. Sill. Many of these young trainees went on years later to become political and military leaders in their countries and maintained lasting relationships with Adeline and Phillip, which grew out of the warm family hospitality these young men never forgot. In 1984 she was predeceased by her husband but continued to actively manage a real estate business. At this point she decided to fulfill her lifelong desire, which was to achieve her college degree. She enrolled at Cameron University and in 1987 walked across the stage in cap and gown with all of her children and grandchildren in attendance. At 75 years of age she was the oldest graduate that year in the University of Oklahoma system. She refused state newspaper interviews saying that age was not important for education. In 1989 she moved to Dallas to be near her daughter and son and their families. She quickly began her relentless pursuit of life in a whole new city. She became active in the SMU Godbey Lecture Series as a board member for three years. Her museum interests were the Meadows Museum and the Dallas Museum of Art. Her interests extended to Nexus, the Dallas Arboretum, the Dallas Opera, and the Dallas Symphony Women's Association. She was a member of the Highland Park Presbyterian Church and served as chair of her circle for two years. She swam daily and was a crack bridge player, participating in several bridge groups, and was always a welcome duplicate player at the Dallas Country Club. Continuing on with the international travel love that she enjoyed with her husband, she never turned down a glamorous offer to see more of the world. Leaving her business interest behind in her small town, she became an avid reader of the Wall Street Journal, and built up an impressive portfolio, and until the day she fell ill two weeks before her death, she continued to buy and sell stocks lmost daily. Her beloved husband, T.A. Philip Hamra and her grandson Stephen Lang Massad preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Sameera and Dr. John Murad, and her son and daughter-in-law Dr. Sam and Sonia Hamra. Her grand children are Randall Massad and his wife Julie, David Massad and his fiancé Lanna Almand, Samia Smith and her husband Chris, Andee Massad English, Andrew Hamra and Taylor Hamra. She had eight great grandchildren and eight great great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church on Wednesday January 5 at 1:00 PM with Dr. Fran Shelton officiating. On Thursday in Lawton the family will receive friends at Becker Funeral home at 1502 Northwest Fort Sill Blvd. at 1:00 PM and a graveside service will be held at Highland Cemetery on Thursday in Lawton Oklahoma with Rev. David Murad officiating. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made in her name at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation in Oklahoma City at 825 Northeast 13th Street Oklahoma City 73104 telephone 405-271-6673 or to the Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church Music Ministry, 9800 Preston Road 75230 telephone 214-368-6348. To the end she adored her children and grandchildren, her nieces, nephews, family, and friends. Our special gratitude goes to the Community Hospice of Texas and to her loving caretakers Irene Evans, Alejandrina Garcia, and Mary Ann Trevino. A special thanks also to the excellent staff at her condo at 3525 Turtle Creek who for years cared for her every need.