Murray Carson Bain

Murray Carson Bain, 3800 Madison Avenue, died Wednesday, August 25, 2010. The funeral service will be held at 2:00pm Monday, August 30, 2010 in the Christ United Methodist Church Sanctuary. A service of internment follows the church service. Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 29, 2010, at the Guilford Chapel of Forbis and Dick at 5926 W. Friendly Avenue from 6:00pm until 8:00pm.

He is survived by his wife Fanny Bain; former wife Susie W Bain, (Austin, TX), daughters Mrs. Betty Osborn and husband Bud, (Kent, WA), Mrs. Debby McCray, (Austin, TX), son Robert C. Bain and wife Vicki, (Greensboro, NC), step-daughters Sara Kotseos and husband Robert, (Hudson, Ohio), Ashlyn Perkins and husband Tim, (Maple Meadow, WV), grandchildren Tani Jorgensen and husband Jack, (Seattle, WA), Molly Morton, (Lions, CO), Jessica Lee and husband William, (Seattle, WA), Kendall Dunlap and husband Andrew, (Tega Cay, SC), Robert C, Bain, Jr. and wife Sarah, (Greensboro, NC), Joanna, Kyle, and William McCray, (Austin, TX), step-grandchildren April Lattig and husband David, (Tega Cay, SC), Holli, Jennifer, and Taylor Perkins, Grayson and Chandler Kotseos, great grandchildren Kyla, DJ, Asher, Owen, Carson, and Max, sister Mazie Bullard, (Greensboro, NC), as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins in the local area.

Among the many associations where Carson Bain served, the Greensboro Jaycees was where he got his start in public life. He was GGO General Chairman in 1950, Jaycee President in 1951, and Honorary Chairman of the GGO in 1959. He is a former President of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners , a member of the Greensboro City Council, Guilford County School Board Chairman, and served as Mayor of Greensboro from 1967 to 1969. He was very proud to have been a part of planning and building the Greensboro Coliseum. He brought hockey to Greensboro. The Greensboro Generals gave him the opportunity to yell “Rabbit Ears” at the Charlotte Checkers goalie on numerous occasions. He was the recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest honor bestowed in NC. Carson served as an officer in the Army Medical Corp. where he met and married the former Susie Marie Winston now living in Austin, Texas.

He was born in Lexington, NC in 1917 and later moved to Greensboro in 1932. He graduated from Greensboro Senior (Grimsley) High School. He is the founding father of Bain Oil Company in Greensboro. He started his company by selling cooking oil door to door out of 5 gallon cans. He later bought a pickup truck to hold and haul the cans. When he had saved sufficient funds, he purchased one of the first pump trucks in the area and began selling fuel oil to homes in Greensboro.

His affiliation with the YMCA began as a young boy. When he was a little older, he would give young boys movie money if they could recite verses from the Bible. The YMCA always held a special place in his heart. He is a life member of the YMCA. Carson served on the Board of Directors of both Bennett College and NC A&T University. He was also President of Piedmont Associated Industries.

He loved fishing, golf, and people. One of his closest friends was Sam Snead. They teamed up many times to win the GGO fishing tournament. He was a member of Starmount Forest Country Club and the Greensboro Rotary Club. He was a 60 year member of Greensboro Lodge 76 AF & AM and is also a 32 Degree Member of the Greensboro Scottish Rite Valley. He is one of only two people to earn three green coats in the Green Coat Club associated with the GGO.

He married Fanny in 1987. The family wishes to publically thank Fanny Bain for her tireless efforts in her role as primary caregiver for Carson Bain in his fight against Alzheimer’s disease. With her 24/7 love and devotion, he was able to live at home for the 13 years he struggled with the disease.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 122 N. Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27401-2818, or to the Carson Bain Memorial Scholarship at the YMCA, 620 Green Valley Road, Suite 210, Greensboro, NC 27408.

Online condolences may be sent to forbisanddick.com.