Nick Harroz, Jr.

Nicholas "Nick" Harroz, Jr. 93, died March 12, 2014 in Edmond, Okla. Nick was born Feb. 20, 1921 in Wichita Falls, Texas to Nicola and Mable Harroz. Nick was the third child born to his parents. His family moved around the state during the early years of his life, before eventually settling in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Oklahoma City. During his childhood and teens, Nick learned the grocery business at his father's Fairview Grocery at SE 29th and Agnew. Nick graduated from Capitol Hill High School in 1939. After high school, Nick enlisted in the US Naval Air Corps where he was a commissioned as an office and trained fighter pilots in Pensacola, Fl. Following the end of World War II, he left the Navy with the rank of captain, and returned home in 1946 to open his first grocery store, Nick's Brett Drive Grocery, which later became Crest Foods. Today, Crest Foods has eight metropolitan locations and operates with the governing principles Nick's dad taught him at Fairview Grocery. In June of 1949 he married the love of his life, Mary Louise "Cherry" Addis, who remained his partner in every since of the word for more than 60 years. They worked side by side to grow their business and raise their children Gary, Bruce, and Sydney. Nick was the ultimate entrepreneur, competitor, and businessman. He relied on the values taught to him by his father, and coined the phrase "Stack it High, and Sell it Cheap!" Nick was very proud that both his boys decided to join him in the grocery business. He was devastated by the loss of his son Gary in 1982, and considered selling the business. But in honor to Gary's memory, and with his son Bruce and wife Cherry by his side, they decided to work harder and expand their business. In 1999, Nick and Cherry sold their business to their son Bruce. He called it retirement, but he was a man who could never truly walk away. In later years, he was still involved in strategic planning and growth of the Company. During retirement, Nick and Cherry moved to Edmond after living in their beloved Midwest City for more than 50 years. Nick was very civically involved during his career. He was an active member of the Midwest City Lions Club, and served for many years on the board of directors of the First National Bank of Midwest City. He was a lifelong member of St. Elijah Orthodox Antiochian Christian Church. In 2005, he was awarded the Bishop's Award for Meritorious Service from the Antiochian Christian Church of North America. In 2006, he was in inducted into the Oklahoma City University Meinder's School of Business Hall of Fame. Later in 2006, he was awarded the outstanding alumni award for the Capitol Hill Alumni Association. Nick loved to spend time with his siblings, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Holidays were some of his favorite times of the year when getting together with his family. He loved golf, was a prankster on the course, and took and every match he played very serious, especially against his brothers Ed and Joe. Nick is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Cherry Harroz; son, Gary Harroz; parents; brother, Edward Harroz, Sr.; sisters, Frances Francis, Jennie Greene, Mary Lou Hawkins; stepbrother Floyd Andeel; and stepsister Jody Bayouth. Nick is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Bruce and Tina Harroz of Edmond; daughter and son-in-law, Sydney and Michael (Mickey) Homsey; brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Joe and Mary Ann Harroz; sister-in-law, Dorothy Harroz; grandchildren, Nicholas and Keegan Harroz III, Nick and Christina Duthie, V. Rev. John and Valerie Salem, Sam and Dini Homsey, Meagan Homsey, Briana and Cole Harroz; great-grandchildren, Michael and Christina Salem, Nate and Leila Duthie, Zeina and Sami Homsey; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. The family wishes to thank the staff at Mercy Hospital, especially Dr. Faysal Nasr and his caregivers, Early and Maye, for their loving and caring help over the last few years. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, March 14, 2014 at Smith and Kernke Chapel on N. May. On March 15, 2014 there will be a 10 a.m. Trisagion Service and Closing of the Casket in the St. George Chapel at St. Elijah Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church. Followed by funeral service at 10:30 a.m. at St. Elijah Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, 150th and N. May. Burial will follow at Arlington Memory Gardens in Oklahoma City. Donations in his memory may be made to the Flowers That Do Not Wither Fund at St. Elijah.