Nikolas 'Nick' Klaras

Nikolas Klaras December 15, 1928 - October 4, 2009 Faithful servant, Nikolas ‘Nick’ Klaras was called home on October 4, 2009, after a courageous battle with leukemia. Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church of Waco with Father Theodore Tsitsilianous of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church and Dr. Milton Cunningham officiating at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 7th. A Trisagion Service will be held at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 6th, with visitation following. Nick was born on December 15, 1928, in Waco to Pete and Mary Klaras. He was a 1947 graduate of Waco High School. Nick played the drums from an early age, was head drum major of the Waco High Tiger Band and enjoyed playing big band and swing music all of his life. He was a 1952 graduate of Baylor University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He met and began his courtship with the love of his life, Luanne Miller Evans, while at Baylor, and they formally began their life’s journey together on June 10, 1955. Nick served in the 143rd Infantry Regiment of the Texas National Guard from 1947 to 1959. He was a quality control analyst for Phillips Petroleum Company later known as Hercules from 1953 to 1958, when as he often times said, “I decided to answer the call of my nationality and went into the restaurant business.” He operated the first Nick’s Restaurant in Westview Bowling Lanes from 1958 until 1965. Wishing to own their own building and expand their restaurant concept, Nick and Luanne purchased land at 4508 West Waco Drive and built Nick’s Restaurant and Catering in 1965. The restaurant enjoyed a long and successful life serving Greek and American cuisine for over 30 years, ending with Nick’s retirement and the restaurant’s closing in 1996. His professional service and achievements include director/president of the Waco Chapter of the Texas Restaurant Association, restaurateur of the year Waco Chapter, state director of the Texas Restaurant Association and TSTC food service advisory board member. His community service and achievements include, vice chairman/trustee of McLennan Community College, director/president of the Baylor Bear Foundation, director of the Baylor Waco Foundation, board member of the Waco Chamber of Commerce, member of the first Waco Convention & Tourism Advisory Board, Heart of the Texas Boy Scouts board member, founding member of the Waco Jazz Orchestra, and director of the Waco Rotary Club. His most cherished roles were volunteering and supporting the Heart of Texas MHMR’s Klaras Children’s Center, which was established in memory of Nick and Luanne’s son, Cameron, and in honor of their work for the MHMR center. Nick was a lifelong member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church where he served as president of the parish council and co-chair of the Greek Food Festival. Nick had a passion and love for his customers, friends and people in general, Baylor athletics, “especially football,” and great music. The jazz reunion that he organized in the 1970’s with his friends from his youth was a greatly enjoyed annual event for over 30 years. He was preceded in death by his son, Cameron; parents, Pete and Mary; and his infant brother, George. He is survived by his wife, Luanne; son, Evan and wife, Kimberly; daughter, Karen Goss and husband, Grant; grandchildren, Cameron Goss and wife, Jill; Christopher Goss; Kent and Katie Klaras and Branch and Sterling Musil; sisters, Estelle Klaras and Pat Grammas and husband, Cameron, of Birmingham, Alabama; and cousins, Mary Klaras; George Klaras and wife, Wanda; Vicki Klaras and Patricia Klaras. He is also survived by numerous cousins and many dear friends. Pallbearers will be Joe N. Johnson, Sr. assisted by Joe N. Johnson, Jr. J. Ed Burleson, Jr. assisted by Charles Burleson, Tommy Riggs, Jr., Bill Warren, Danny Henderson, David Lacy, Elmer Spivey and Tony Rokas. Honorary pallbearers will be Vincent Navarro, Robert Mathis, Wallace Wells, Eddie Jackson, Hack Branch, Glidden O’Connor, John E. Burleson III, Barry Johnson, Robert Isbell, Downs Brown, Leonard Jarrard, Don Goodwin, David Smith, Cotton Davidson, Gayle Galloway, Wyatt Heard, Sammy Citrano and Tom Stanton. The family requests that memorials be made to the Klaras Children’s Center c/o Heart of Texas MHMR, 110 South 12th Street, Waco, Texas 76701, or the charity of your choice. The family wishes to express its heartfelt thanks to Dr. Ofobuike Okani, Hillcrest Hospital, Scott and White Continuing Care Hospital, and a special thanks to Dr. Guillermo Garcia-Manero and the dedicated staff of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey