Reverend Doctor Oran Rogers Nabors died September 21, 2014, at the age of 77. Dr. Nabors was born at home in Laurens County, South Carolina, on January 29, 1937. He was the youngest of eleven children born to Mattie Adair and Grover Cleveland Nabors. Oran graduated with a Bachelor of Art in Music ('59) from Furman University, with a Master of Music Education ('61) from University of North Texas (as a member of the last graduating class from North Texas State College), with a Master of Religious Education ('71) in Sacred Music and Worship from Perkins School of Theology (SMU), and a Doctor of Ministry degree ('87) from Brite Divinity School (TCU). Oran served five years in the South Carolina Army National Guard.
After graduating from Furman, Oran married his high school sweetheart, Charlotte DeVinney, and they moved to Denton, Texas, for his Master's studies. Oran and Charlotte were married 54 years and worked together as parents, pastors and missionaries. They have three children, Stacey, Christopher and Charles. During his lifetime, Oran Nabors was a band director, a bell choir director, a missionary and a caring pastor. Ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1971, he served churches in Dallas, Houston, Richardson and Denton and taught music, worship, and Christian Education at Thailand Theological Seminary, in Chiang Mai, Thailand. For ten years he and Charlotte were co-pastors at First Christian Church in Denton and on retirement served together as interim ministers in Gainesville, Ardmore and Plano. Oran served as President of the Richardson Ministerial Alliance, was a leader in the Association of Christian Church Educators and chaired the Interfaith Ministry Board in Denton. He held many leadership positions in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), including the Moderator for the North Texas Area of Christian Churches. In 2004, he and Charlotte were both honored with the Distinguished Minister's Award from Brite Divinity School (TCU).
Having directed his first handbell choir in 1963, he was a pioneer in handbell ringing in America and served on the board of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (now known as Handbell Musicians of America), holding several offices including Chair of Area IX. He served for four years as the editor of Overtones, the guild's magazine. His 1971 master's thesis was titled "The Sound of Joyous Bells (An Introduction to Handbell Ringing)". He was a President of the Greater Dallas Handbell Association, and served as the clinician for their second Winter Festival. Oran was a founding member of Cast of Bronze and member of Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity. Oran loved life and gave himself fully in everything he did. He particularly enjoyed gardening, traveling, eating Thai food, spending time with family, and, of course, anything related to music.
Oran is survived by his wife, Charlotte, and their children: Stacey Nabors Henley, along with her husband Robert of Fort Worth, Christopher Thomas Nabors, along with his wife Gayle of Dallas and Charles Roger Nabors of Hurst. Seven grandchildren also survive him: Ryan Nabors, along with his wife Taylor, Brittany Nabors, Avery Henley, Bobby Henley, Blair Henley, Blake Nabors and Brent Nabors. Preceding him in death were his parents and his ten siblings.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 27, at 11:00 am at First Christian Church, 1203 N. Fulton St., Denton, Texas, 76201. The service will be officiated by Reverend Jack Mullins and Reverend Deborah Morgan-Stokes.
The Nabors family expresses deep appreciation for the kindness, love and support of our church families, health care providers and First Choice Home Health.
Memorials may be made to First Christian Church of Denton, Cast of Bronze (a community handbell ensemble, Chris Nabors director) and/or the Thai Christian Foundation.