Arees Yacoub Akoubian

Arees Yacoub Akoubian age 91 of Norcross, Georgia died on Friday October 2, 2026. Arees was born in Amman, Jordan on April 18, 1935 to Armenhoui and Yacoub Akoubian.

The oldest of four children, Arees would carry the hopes of his Armenian family to become the embodiment of the American Dream. He was a natural leader whose creativity and ingenuity helped him develop an attitude to “just figure it out” when challenges arose. Responsible and inquisitive, he worked in the local theater running the film projector,quickly falling in love with American movies, especially westerns. In 1952 at the age of 17, his family made the difficult decision to send him to America where his options for a bright future were much better. He soon realized a faster path to citizenship through military service and proudly chose to become a Marine, believing the Marine Corp was the military’s best, most elite branch. During his thirteen year career, he specialized in electronics and worked on missiles, doing the job of Gunnery Sergeant while in Vietnam earning the nickname “The Gunny.” He met and married Dolores Eck, also a Marine, and started a family that would quickly grow to five children. Eleven years after he left his family in Jordan he was reunited with them in California, where his parents, brothers and sister settled and began their lives in America.. His final year of service as a Marine was spent in Vietnam during the war. His “just figure it out” attitude helped him stay in communication with his family by regularly recording audio tape messages to his young children.

After returning home he left the Marine Corp, and worked for a division of McGraw Hill publishing company He proved to be an excellent salesman and soon moved his family to Atlanta to cover the southeast region. For the first time, he and his family established roots. Arees helped to enrich his community of south Dekalb county by supporting his children as an unofficial photographer for their activities and helping to start a youth soccer league. After years of weekly travel, he left his position with McGraw Hill Publishing to take a senior leadership position with Mitre sports where he worked for several years. . After his first marriage ended, he met and married Kay King who would become his life partner. She provided the unconditional love and support that allowed him to pursue his entrepreneurial interests, later starting Visual Information Publishers (VIP) and working for the Dekalb Convention and Visitors Bureau (DCVB).

When he was not working he explored other passions including woodworking, photography, gardening, cooking, technology and anything that allowed him to create with his hands and to share his talents and knowledge with those around him. In all his endeavors, he held himself and others to high standards and worked hard to achieve goals of excellence. Kay stood by his side to help him “figure it out” and softened his rough edges, helping him to become the doting grandfather and great grandfather to the next generation. A man proud of his Armenian family history, Arees was most proud of his American family story and he never missed an opportunity to impart his wisdom and values to those he loved..

Family was paramount to Arees, and his impact and influence can be seen in his siblings, children, and grandchildren, as well as his many nieces and nephews. The Akoubian family patriarch and hero was loved dearly and will be missed immensely. Arees is survived by his wife Kay Akoubian, his sons Steven Akoubian, Arees R. Akoubian (Jeannie Akoubian), and David Akoubian (Evelyn Steiner), daughter Cathy Hachey (Paul Hachey) and step-daughter Brandi King, brother Rupen Akoubian (Silva Akoubian), sister-in-law Liz Akoubian, grandchildren Trey Broussard (Meredith Miller), Rachel Rhodes, Amanda Broussard, Kendall Bonet (Joseph Bonet), Sammy Akoubian, Sara Barker (Jerry Barker), Sydney Akoubian, Zion King, Jeff Little, Anna Steiner, Eric Steiner and nine great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Armenhoui and Yacoub Akoubian, sister Sosi Injeian, brother Raffi Akoubian and son Jamie Akoubian.