Nicholas Joseph Koury Jr.

Massachusetts. He was the grandson of an Arabian sheik and a blonde Lithuanian cantor (church singer).

His mothers folks had a piano that Nick used to pound on when he was eight years old when visiting his

Grandparents on many Sundays. When his father bought a piano, a nun began teaching Nick classical

music and techniques of composers such as Chopin, Mozart, and Rachmaninoff for 50 cents per lesson

for four years. Then, a piano player in his fathers restaurant/nightclub started teaching him big band,

Jazz and boogie-woogie.

When Nick was 17 years old (and with his fathers permission) he joined the Navy in 1945. He was sent

to Treasure lsland, near San Francisco. His next base was at Port Chicago and he hitched a ride, hoping

to be able to stop and see Hollywood, but Merced was as far as he got. One block from Highway 99, he

heard music and saw a USO sign. lt was here that he met Naomi Noteware Hondeville and quickly fell in

love with her. Nick's piano playing and singing voice wooed Naomi to the altar and they were married on

June 29, 1946. Together they had four sons - Nickie, Dickie, Bobby and Brad. Their marriage lasted

almost sixty years until Naomi died on August 5, 2005.

After being discharged from the Navy, Nick returned to Merced where he found both day and night jobs

Plentiful. Nights were spent at gigs at places like Club Joaquin, Mixatorium, Hotel Tioga's Koko Room,

Castle AFB's Officer's Club, NCO Club, and Service Club, The Country Club, the ltalo Lodge, Elk's Lodge,

American Legion Hall, The Club Sequoia, Club Mercedes, The Women's Club, Sir James, and on and on.

During the day he worked as a PG&E lineman, the Merced Sun-Star Circulation Distribution Manager &

Sportswriter, Real Estate Broker, Foster Farms Advertising and Public Relations Manager, Trans-County

Title Company, and almost every weekend, he was singing at weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and

retirements.

Nick was preceded in death by his loving wife Naomi, his 1'st born son, Nickie lll, his son Brad, grandson

Richard Jr., and his younger brother Robert. He is survived by his two sons Richard of Merced and Bob

(and daughter-in-law Vicki) of Fresno, his sister Janie Bohn of Roseville, grandchildren Sarah, Julie,

Kimberly, Jennifer, Kathryn, Brad, Jr., and Kristen), and 14 great grandchildren.

The funeral service will be at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home 1490 B Street Merced, CA 95341 on Wednesday, December 17,2014, at 1:00 pm with Nick`s son Richard officiating.

ln lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to a charity of your choice.