Bud Crain

Orin Levi "Bud" Crain, Jr. was born in Fordland, Missouri on April 26, 1928. He passed away quietly on February 18, 2021, at the age of 92 years. Born just before the Great Depression, Bud would meet Mae during their teen years after he left home. Bud spent a lot of time visiting Mae's dad's saddle shop. Eventually, they decided to sneak over the border into Kansas to be married on Mae's 18th birthday in 1946 and the rest is history. This marriage of near 75 years would be the highlight of Bud's life as he told everyone about it within a few minutes of meeting.

While living in Casper Wyoming during 1950 and 1951, he was baptized by Felix Tarbet. Too young for World War II, Bud joined the Marines in 1952 and shipped off to Camp Pendleton during the Korean conflict. He was traveling toward Korea on a ship when the Armistice was signed so he spent several months of his tour in Japan. After 8 years childless, they adopted Linda and then had Matt and Mark, losing a daughter in between.

Returning to Oklahoma from California with two children, misfortune would visit their home before they could establish it. Most of their possessions burned in a fire while they were trying to settle in Tulsa. Some of the best friends they ever made were the ones who helped them through these trying times. They worshiped with what became the 49th and Tacoma congregation and Bud took his sons to men's training classes and helped them with Wednesday night talks.

Bud was a volunteer Scout leader who went camping with Troop 28 dozens of times. He never met an animal he didn't like, though he was pretty put out with the dog who ate his last four chickens last year.
Bud was like a little kid where God's creation was concerned. He never lost the wonder and would often require several extra minutes to walk from the car to the house because he had to take in every detail of the world around him and under his feet.

Bud was a skilled craftsman by trade, learning by internship. They opened Orin's Furniture Specialties just East of the Boston Avenue Methodist Church and later moved the business to 15th and Harvard. Bud and Mae upholstered furniture and walls, finished needlepoint, and occasionally sold antiques. In 1977, Bud and Mae embarked on a new adventure by moving to 80 acres of timber near Wellston, Oklahoma. After retirement, they had three Foreign Exchange Students and even traveled to Germany to experience the world of one young man who would remain a dear friend to this day.

After 33 years in Wellston, they returned home to Southwest Tulsa in 2009 and resumed worshiping with their Carbondale church family until health limitations prevented him from attending. He received excellent care over the past 10 months from the folks at Good Shepherd Hospice and leaves his wife Mae in their care.

Bud was preceded in death by his parents Orin Levi Crain, Sr. and Sarah Louise Watrous Crain, one brother Jesse, one sister Alice, an infant daughter, and daughter Linda. He is survived by his wife Mae, two brothers, Howard Marshall Crain and Victor Patrick Crain, two sons Matthew Crain and wife Lucinda, and Mark Crain and Cathy Cowan, five grandchildren: Sarah Mayfield and husband Kevin, Rebecca Lynch and husband Jason, Jordan Crain, Whitney Brown and husband Trevor; and Steve Bradley. He will also be missed by five great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews, long-time friends, and his loving church family.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 26, 2021 at the Carbondale Church of Christ in Tulsa followed by a graveside service at 2:00 p.m. at the Saint Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Wellston. Local arrangements are under the direction of Lehman Funeral Home of Wellston.

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