Taki Mercouris Kypreos
Taki Mercouris Kypreos, 73, passed away Monday, July 3, 2023 at his personal care home in LaPorte, Texas.
Taki was born the middle of three children to Mark and Viola Kypreos in Galveston, Texas on November 26, 1949. He graduated from Ball High School in 1968 and was an Eagle Scout in his younger years of life. Taki worked on the Galveston Wharves Railroad for about 20 years and was the first trolley driver in Galveston in 1988. He had a successful business on 61st street, renting beach chairs and umbrellas for over 25 years.
Taki is survived by his two brothers, Nick and wife, Cindy Kypreos of Fort Worth, Texas. Youngest brother Peter Kypreos and JeLayne Hoffman of Galveston, Texas. Taki had two daughters, Koral and Gary Schulz of League City, Shelby and Stephen Franco of League City, Texas. Taki also had five grandchildren, Riley, Marcus, Mason, Mia and Karson. One nephew, Markus and Mary Kypreos of Fort Worth and one niece, Lexi and Carson Yost of Houston, Texas. Four great nieces and one nephew include Cypress and Mary Carson Yost, Maximus and Nikole Kypreos. Godson Cory Gottlob of Hitchcock.
Taki is preceded in death by his parents, Mark and Viola Kypreos of Galveston, Texas.
Taki was a fun spirited soul and will be missed and remembered by the many lives he touched. He had an unlimited love for his family, especially his grandkids, his love for the beach was unlike any other. He loved going to watch a good Astros game and going out to eat for a really good dinner. He was an avid enthusiast for all things Disney, it’s what truly made him happy. He made such an impact on many lives, if you met him you would have never forgotten him. His family hopes he is catching the biggest waves on his surfboard through the heavenly golden gates. We will always love and miss you until we can meet again.
Services will be held at Crowder Funeral Home, 1645 East Main Street, League City, Texas, Saturday, July 15th at 11am for visitation and a Memorial Service will be held at 12pm.
A very special thanks for everyone that cared for him at Vintage Life personal care home in LaPorte as well as Shannon with Harbour Hospice.
Hawaiian shirts are encouraged to be worn for his celebration of life, the brighter the better.
What a sweet snapshot of his full life. His beach chair/umbrella business was remarkable. His beach was always the 1st set up and ready to go while competition was just waking up for the day….always tan, always salty, and always smiling. Hawaiian shirts are the perfect touch…..
Koral, Gary and I both send our heart felt condolences. Your Dad sounded like a fun loving person. I know you will mis him.
Love,
Gary & Colleen
I’ve known Taki well over 45 years+.
When I started as a Switchman for Galveston Wharves RR in 1976 I met Taki, even by then he was already “Well Known ‘Living Legend’” on the ‘Isle.’ We worked
together thru some great times w/his “second-to-none’ humor, Storied Telling & his antics of impersonating his Co-Workers to the last detail. After our departures from the RR I would occasionally stop by to say Hello on his Sacred Domain … “His Beach.” In fact, if my memory serves me well, hopefully his name is still inscribed in cement on Seawall Side of the Blvd. — across the street from a the Commodore Motel.
Truly, Taki will be remembered as “One in Life Time Generation” Character & will be missed by all.
“Catch a Wave for me ‘Bro.’”
“Zorro”
I am so sorry for the loss of you dad Koral and Shelby. He meant a lot to me. I know he was so proud of you girls and loved you both. It breaks my heart that I won’t be there Saturday to pay my respects and give you girls a hug. I know he leaves many memories to many people. Like you said once you meet Taki you don’t forget him, so true. He was my first boss and my neighbor. RIP Taki.
Taki & I were life long friends I will truly miss you my friend May you RIP
Our condolences .. thoughts and prayers sent to family and friends .. R.I.P. Taki .. continue riding the waves my friend!
Dearest Shelby and Coral, so sad to hear the news of your Dad’s passing
He spent many many Thanksgivings with us and friends. He would bring his fried turkey and later years vanilla ice cream for the pies. I would see him fill his plate high and eat everything. Don’t know how he stayed so skinny. We would see him twice a year. Mardi Gras and Thanksgiving but felt we saw him everyday. He was a very special friend to Bill and I. When Taki started getting sick he would say well “Hell what was I talking about” and laugh his laugh Girls you know he would have another word but I didn’t want to put that in paper. We have missed him the last couple of years and will continue to think of him often
We will be unable to say goodbye to our dear friend with you but we will be there in spirit..
With love and prayers to your families,
Judy and Bill Labuzan
So sorry for your lost use to hang with him on the beach.. RIP my friend may God bless..
Taki was a Galveston legend. We met as teenagers and he will be missed by all. RIP old buddy.
I’ve known Tiki and his family for years starting with our days serving as altar boys in the Greek Orthodox Church and through our times as teenagers and into adulthood. He was my neighbor in Jamaica Beach when I was first married. Always happy and extremely artistic. He had a good eye for turning anything beach oriented into art pieces. He was truly one of Galveston’s colorful beach characters, joining amongst the ranks of guys like Essay Levy and his beach predecessor Ducky Prendergast.
My sincere condolences to his family. May his memory be eternal.
Ted Waterman
For the most part, I moved off the Island when I left for college. Whenever I would miss home and come back down to hang out, or ride my bike on the beach, I would look for all my local buddies. No matter what, I always knew where to find Taki. He would always smile… ask me where I’ve been… then ask “you back now?”
My deepest sympathy to all the family and close friends. Taki was one of a kind…. And I will miss my old friend.
Dear Shelby and Coral,
So sorry to hear of your dads passing. He loved you girls very much. So many memories of your dad. I am so sorry for your loss.
Karen Knebel
Can’t remember how long I’ve known Takie, it seems forever, at least 60 years or so. An old Galveston soul. RIP my old friend!
Taki and I graduated from BHS in 1968 and we have been friends for over 50 years. I am so sad to hear of his passing and I am very regretful that I will be unable to attend his services and celebration of life. When I think of Taki, I see his great smile, his love for the beach and the deep love he had for Coral and Shelby. I spent countless days at “Taki’s Beach.” He would generously give me an umbrella and chair and I would soak up the sun until day was done. We shared long conversations and we laughed a lot. I think Taki must have been born with sand between his toes because his love for the beach was legendary. Taki was a Free Spirit with a Big Heart and I am grateful to call him “My Friend.”
Shelby and Koral
So sorry about the long journey you endured with your dad.
Taki was loved and admired by many people in his life time.
He was a legend. We appreciate his huge personality and
That great smile. He spoke of his grandkids often.
I will always remember our childhood days.
The neighborhood pranks, the walks to the beach toting our big 9ft surfboards. The blasting out of beach boys on our stereos
The pulling of nearest fire alarms 🚨 and hiding .
The punishment for our pranks . The merciless trapping of fire flies .
The 70’s were great . Of course Taki was the coolest guy in our neighborhood and of course the cool guy on the beach.
RIP Taki …thanks for being a friend and the many laughs we had.
Back in the day….60:s & 70,’s Galveston Island….,there was no cooler& no finer than Taki..!!!!!!!
My heart goes out to his family, losing any one of your parents is the hardest thing to go through in life , Remeber all the memories and good times. I had the pleasure of meeting Taki when he came in to the hospital, he was a sweetheart with a sweet tooth and everybody loved him. You can have all the sweets your heart desires in paradise. Fly high Taki you will be missed.
My Deepest Condolences
Taki was my longtime friend from high school. Back then, we went on dates together, saw Santana in Houston, built a VW motor to go surfing in California, ended up driving my Firebird 400 four-on-the-floor because we couldn’t get the Volkswagen van motor rebuilt in time, went to lots of surf shops in Cali and rode the waves together, also spent time at Coach Lloyd Kelly’s house on the bayou where Taki lived with Kathleen back when I first met Paula and we went out together, later Taki gladly adopted my Doberman to live with his Dobies in Jamaica Beach, on and on up to the time our boys, Jason and Jeremy, worked for Taki on 61st Street Beach making snow cones and setting up beach chairs, and whenever we met up, we were forever chatting about the good old times. We loved listening to Taki always talking about Shelby and Koral.
RIP good friend til we meet again.
There is never a last wave but sometimes the ride is over . No one ever can say the right thing at at a time of a life lost . My thought & Prayers are with you all today and always A.J. “Bubba” Forester
I am so sorry I just learned of your passing my friend otherwise I would have been at the celebration of your life today. Some of the best times of my life were spent with you here on the island and in California. RIP brother until we meet again…
Stephen Newberry
I was in Taki’s class every year at Alamo Elementary School. I still remember the fun we had at that school and even playing baseball against the other classes. He even entertained the class with pictures from their vacation in Greece. At Lovenberg Junior High he really got into the surfing craze at the time and became an avid surfer for life. He may be gone in body but his legacy lives on with all the lives he touched.