Barbara Kouns

Barbara Gurley Kouns of Johns Creek, Georgia died Thursday, January 30th. She was the daughter of the late John Rush Gurley and Eugenia Soefker Gurley of Memphis, Tennessee. Barbara graduated from Catholic High School in Memphis, Tennessee. She graduated from University of Memphis in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science in English, later earning her Master of Arts in Library Science from U of M and her Specialist degree in Education from the University of Georgia. Barbara married the late Lt. Vincent Emmett O’Connell, US Army, in 1942. Lt. O’Connell was killed in WWII in the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest in Germany. In 1946, she married the late Robert Lee Kouns, Jr. after he returned from the Pacific Theater as a naval aviator in WWII. They lived in Memphis, TN until they moved to Sandy Springs, GA in 1967. Mr. and Mrs. Kouns moved to Johns Creek, GA in 1987. Barbara was a beloved media specialist in Fulton County Schools, retiring after 30 years in 1998. She worked at several different schools during her 30 year career including Underwood Hills Elementary School, Ridgeview Middle School, and Independence High School. During her tenure with the school system, Barbara received the State of Georgia’s Excellence Award for exemplary media center programs and was recognized as Media Specialist of the Year. She also served in leadership positions, including president for two terms, for the Georgia Association of Educators Media Services Department. Even though she enjoyed an active career with Fulton County School System, Barbara enjoyed playing Duplicate and Tournament Bridge, achieving the rank of Life Master. She also enjoyed collecting antiques, playing tennis, and working for Catholic Charities. Barbara was a member of the Atlanta Children’s Theatre Guild, National Education Association, Georgia Association of Educators, Fulton County Association of Educators, and St. Jude’s Ladies Circle. She was also a communicant of St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church in Sandy Springs, GA and St. Benedict Catholic Church in Johns Creek, GA. Barbara is survived by her three children: Vincent O’Connell Kouns of Houston, TX; Diana Kouns Kuhlman of Nashville, TN; and John Robert Kouns of Roswell, GA. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. A viewing will be held Monday, February 3, 2014 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Sandy Springs Chapel. The funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 4 at 11:00 AM at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Sandy Springs, GA. Interment will be held Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at 11:00 am in Georgia National Cemetery .