William Edward Kakish

On Saturday, October 1, 2022, William Edward Kakish died peacefully surrounded by his loving family. Bill was born on October 21, 1931, in Hartshorne, Oklahoma to Mary Badeen Kakish and Nicholas Said Kakish. He married Dianna Helen Samara on February 23, 1958, and the two shared 64 beautiful years together. Between time spent with family and friends and his dedication to work and community service, Bill led an incredibly full life. He grew up in Hartshorne, working alongside his parents in the family department store, Kakish's of Hartshorne, which specialized in western wear. He graduated from Hartshorne High School in 1949 and the University of Oklahoma in 1953. After graduation, he served in the United States Marine Corps as a Corporal during the Korean War. As a child of immigrants, he took great pride in serving his country, ending every family prayer with "God Bless America." In 1955, he returned to Hartshorne and purchased Kakish's from his mother, which he owned and operated for more than 40 years. A lifelong Sooner football fan, he took his future wife, Dianna, for their first date to the OU/Notre Dame game in November 1957. The Sooners ended their 47-game winning streak that day, but Bill left a winner. He knew from that first date that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Dianna. And in fact, they married shortly thereafter, on February 23, 1958. There was no one in this world Bill loved more than his wife and three children. Bill and Dianna worked side by side raising Nick, Randy and Cheryl and building Kakish's into a successful business serving the people of southeast Oklahoma and beyond. As a true entrepreneur, he was also involved in countless business ventures, including investments in Sonic Drive-ins, a bank, and an insurance company.Bill was well-known throughout southeast Oklahoma for his ongoing involvement in the community. He was a member of the McAlester chapter of the Masonic Lodge and achieved the level of 32nd Degree Mason. He was active in the Hartshorne Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Hartshorne and was a founding board member of Oklahoma Aerotronics. He attended the First Christian Church of Hartshorne during his time there. Having been baptized in the Orthodox Church as a child, Bill became an active member of the St. Elijah Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church after he and Dianna moved to Oklahoma City.Bill loved spending time outdoors, fishing and deer hunting with his boys and enjoying time with his family at the lake. For 30 years, he spent as much time as possible with his wife, children, and grandchildren at his condo at Lake Eufaula, a special gift from Dianna for his 60th birthday. A lover of new experiences, he and his family also traveled extensively across the U.S., Europe and South America. Bill was preceded in death by his father and mother, Nicholas and Mary, and sister and brother-in-law, Vickie and Sam Dakil. He is survived by his wife, Dianna, and children, Nick and Terri Kakish, Dr. Randy and Shannon Kakish, Cheryl Rahill, and Steve Rahill. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Ashley Rahill-Henry and Shane Henry, Lauren Rahill, Alexandrea Rahill and Nicole Chenelle, Emily Kakish, Sam Kakish, Anna Kakish, and Jayden Kakish, sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ann and John Paul Hawkins, godson, Dr. Shea Samara, and numerous nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held at St. Elijah Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church on Tuesday, October 4, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Flowers That Do Not Wither Fund at St. Elijah.