Oran Samuel McBride, Sr.

Oran Samuel McBride Sr. passed away at his home near Batesville in the Bethesda Community, Thursday, September 16, 2010. He was 81 years old. Oran was born March 8th, 1929 in Rosie, Arkansas, and was the son of the late Forest Samuel McBride and Rebecca Lucinda Virginia Lee Coker McBride. Oran left school in the eighth grade, but that didn't stop him from building a company that flourished under his hand. When he was seventeen, he began selling sandstone on the side of the road that he quarried from hand-made tools and his own grit and determination. Through the years, the company that he and his wife, Evelene, started in 1948 has become a multi-million dollar enterprise that sells Arkansas stone to places all over the world. As he said in a newspaper article once, "I never tried to get rich. I just tried to make a living out of it." Make a living out of it he did. Oran wasn't a man to let technology pass him by. What had started out with hand-made tools, wheelbarrows, and hammers, he turned into a cutting edge business. He bought two of the first ever diamond belt quarry saws and then three of the first ever narrow belt saws. Today, the company he built runs two CNC machines and a fleet of heavy machinery. When a new piece of equipment came in on a truck, he would get a smile on his face that would rival that of one of his grandkids at Christmas looking at the mountain of gifts under (and around) the tree from him and Evelene. Oran was proud to call the company a family business. He employed a variety of people who if they were not family to begin with became family. To this day, the company employs many of his children, grandchildren, and extended family. Many of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren have their first memories of him hammering away at a piece of stone or giving them rides on a forklift. He was a patient man and made time to teach the things he had learned in his life to his family and with the teaching came love. His family never called him Oran. They just called him Pa. He loved watching John Wayne movies, playing baseball in his younger years, hunting and fishing with his grandkids, bouncing grandbabies (the more the better), and sitting on the porch with Nanny. He wore overalls and cowboy boots and ate whatever came out of Nanny's kitchen, especially fried potatoes. He gave bone crushing hugs, laughed from the gut, and smiled easily. His bark was ferocious, but usually full of bluster. If a customer had to describe him, they would say he was fair to a fault, honest in his dealings, and an artist with stone. If a friend had to do the same, they would say he was admired for his loyalty, simple in his ways, and memorable in his personality. If his family had to explain him, they would say he was strong enough to lean on, big as a bear but full of tenderness, and loved beyond it all. If you asked him about what he believed was his greatest accomplishment in this world, without hesitation he would look past the company he built and respond simply, "A family that loves me and a wife I adore." He was a good provider, a loving father and grandfather, and a devoted husband. He will be long remembered by all those that knew him and sorely missed by all those that loved him. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Rosie Baptist Church for many years. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Elmer McBride and Archie McBride; and a sister, Furby Lutner. He is survived by his wife and four children. He married Evelene Branscum of Rosie on July 1, 1946 and they had four children, Diane McBride Harbin, Oran "Buddy" Samuel McBride Jr., Dennis Bradley McBride, and Darlene Page all of Bethesda. He had 15 grandchildren: Melissa Wrinkle, Oran Samuel McBride, III, Christopher Huckaba, Leslie Huckaba, Patricia Rouse, Jennifer McGee, Jody Page, Angelia McBride, Lisa Sharp, Nicole Trent, Jeremy Page, Casey Page, Katie McBride, Jerry Anna Page, and Amber Page. He had sixteen great-grandchildren: Erica Blake, Amy Wrinkle, Allana Huckaba, Elizabeth Ingram, Angel Huckaba, Kirstin Rouse, Alexander McGee, Allie Page, Samantha McGee, Cameron Sharp, Violet Page, Hayden Joe Huckaba, Lauren Blake, Aiden Sharp, Elijah McGee, and Xzavier Page. He had one great-great-grandchild, Brylee Blake. He is also survived by his brothers, Avner McBride of Rosie, Delvia McBride, and Johnny McBride both of Salado; and a sister, Gertrue Moser of Batesville. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m., Sunday, September 19th, 2010 at the Roller-Crouch Funeral Home. There will a church service at 2 p.m., Monday, September 20, 2010 at Rosie Baptist Church. Reverend Farrell Miller will officiate. Donnie Branscum and Sheridan Rouse will give memorials. The graveside service will be held following the church service at Wyatt Cemetery on Goody Creek in Rosie. Pallbearers will be Stephen McBride, Johnny Young, Tim Low, Matt McGee, Dwayne Reynolds, Brad McPherson, Lee Felton, D.J. Newman, and Dean Felton. All friends and family are welcome to attend. The family would like to thank everyone who has come by to show support and love. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.